The CBI today carried out simultaneous searches in two districts in connection with the multi-crore alleged foodgrain scam.    Searches were carried out at residences and business premises of a BSP leader and a food contractors in Sitapur and Lakhimpur district, official sources said.    In Sitapur, the central agency searched six different places including the house and office of a BSP leader in Maholi.    Sleuths also carried out searches at two places in Bisvan and one at Sarsaian village under Reosa police station from where the BSP leader hails.    Officials are reported to have collected all the necessary documents and papers from the respective places.     No one was arrested as scrutiny of papers was still ongoing, they added.    In Lakhimpur, CBI searched Naurangabad and Hidayat Nagar residence of the food contractor and also interrogated him for nearly six hours.    More than 60 FIRs were lodged at different police station against 500 people in the district after the alleged scam surfaced in 2004.    Last year, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court while hearing a petition had directed CBI for a comprehensive probe in the foodgrain scam as it spanned several districts of the state.    The scam involved sale of foodgrains meant for the PDS and other special schemes for those under BPL, Sampoorna Gramin Rozgar Yojana (now integrated with NREGS), Antyodaya Yojana and mid-day meal scheme, being sold off to private entities in country and abroad.    Entries were made in the government stocks that the stocks had been distributed among the target populace, while the foodgrains were being allegedly siphoned off elsewhere.

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