Taking a serious view of the illegal and fraudulent sale of PDS rice, the Madras High Court on Monday directed the Additional Public Prosecutor to file a report on the loss caused to the exchequer and the steps against those smuggling the essential commodity.

A division bench, comprising Justices N Kirubakaran and P Rajamanickam, was disposing of a habeas corpus petition by Sowjanya, wife of Amarnath of Vellore district, challenging his detention under the Prevention of Black Marketing and Maintenance of Supplies of Essential Commodities Act 1980.