The Preventive Detention (PD) Act was invoked against a rice miller in Dandepalli mandal of Mancherial district for allegedly diverting custom-milled rice (CMR) repeatedly, resulting in a loss of around ₹15.14 crore to the State exchequer, police said.

The detention order was issued against Gampa Santosh Kumar, managing partner of Ramalakshman Industries Rice Mill at Lingapur village. Two cases were registered against him at Dandepalli and Hajipur police stations in connection with the alleged diversion of custom-milled rice during 2025 and 2026, police said.

According to police, around 4,452 metric tonnes of CMR pertaining to 2022-23 rabi and 2024-25 rabi seasons remained due from the miller.

The detention order was served on Santosh at the sub-jail in Luxettipet, where he was lodged as a remand prisoner in a case registered at Dandepalli police station.

He was subsequently shifted to Charlapalli Central Jail in Hyderabad.