MUMBAI: Mumbai Police have busted a milk adulteration racket in Kandivali East, with a 48-year-old man allegedly caught red-handed while adulterating branded milk with impure water and preparing it for sale.The Detection Squad of Samta Nagar police raided a residence in Kandivali East and seized 74 litres of adulterated milk bearing Amul and Gokul labels, along with material allegedly used for adulteration and counterfeit empty milk pouches.Police said the accused was allegedly mixing impure water into branded milk before preparing it for sale. A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Food Safety and Standards Act, and the accused has been arrested.The raid comes amid a wider probe into the alleged sale of adulterated milk in Mumbai and its suburbs.
Earlier probe uncovered counterfeit milk-packet network
In a related case, the Mumbai crime branch had earlier busted an alleged racket involved in adulterating milk and selling it in counterfeit packets of reputed brands, including Amul and Gokul.Acting on a tip-off, Unit 12 of the crime branch raided premises in Dahisar East on July 9, where police allegedly found milk packets of reputed brands being cut open, diluted with dirty water and resealed before being sold to consumers.Police seized around 470 litres of milk worth Rs 29,750, 13,000 counterfeit empty Amul milk bags, plastic material, equipment used for adulterating milk and four mobile phones worth Rs 10.79 lakh.During the investigation, police identified the alleged main accused and arrested him in Telangana. His interrogation allegedly led investigators to a factory at Lakshmi Industrial Estate, Valiv Phata, Vasai East, Palghar, where counterfeit Amul milk bags were allegedly being manufactured.Police seized fake Amul bags and machinery allegedly used to manufacture the counterfeit packaging, collectively valued at around Rs 10 lakh.The four arrested were identified as Lingya Ganta (42), Saidul Jingli (33), Yadya Batulla (46) and Ramul Bodopalli (65).Police said the alleged main accused had been supplying counterfeit milk bags to people involved in milk adulteration in Mumbai and its suburbs since 2021. The investigation, police said, helped uncover the network allegedly involved in manufacturing fake packaging and selling adulterated milk.A case was registered at Dahisar police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act.
