The CBI on Saturday carried out searches across 12 locations here in connection with its probe in the public distribution system scam in Uttar Pradesh claimed to be worth Rs 35,000 crore.
The scam relates to alleged diversion of food grains meant for poor people to neighbouring countries.
The searches were conducted at the residential premises of class-III employees of the state food corporation, middlemen and some godowns, CBI sources said.
Sources said in one FIR pertaining to Lakhimpur District, the CBI has named about 500 people in the case.
They said CBI is probing the case district-wise.
The agency is probing the case in five districts while the rest of the districts are being probed by state police.
The CBI took over the probe after the Allahabad High Court on December 3, 2010, asked it to take over the case in Gonda, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ballia, Lakhimpur and Sitapur districts.