Adulterated ghee racket busted, one held

MUMBAI: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) along with the Vakola Police busted an adulterated ghee racket at Santa Cruz (E) recently and arrested one person. The police confiscated 23 kg of adulterated ghee.
The accused, Suraj Sahu, a resident of Kevla Prasad Chawl, was nabbed by the police when he was trying to sell the adulterated ghee.
``We received a tip-off that a person in room number 10 at the chawl sells adulterated ghee.We kept a watch on him for a day and observed his movements to confirm the allegation. We set a trap along with the Vakola Police and nabbed him,'' said R C Runwal, assistant commissioner, FDA.
According to FDA officials, Sahu would mix butter and dalda which would result in a product similar to ghee. He would then sell it at a lower rate at the slums in the Golibar road area, Santa Cruz (E). ``With the festival season on, there is a shortage of ghee. So Sahu used to sell the adulterated product at a lower price,'' added Runwal.
``There is a mass consumption of sweets during this festival, so people have to take precautions and find out where their sweets are coming from. Suppliers have to maintain hygiene. People take advantage of the festive season to sell adulterated products,'' said S C Chaudhari, joint commissioner, FDA who was also present when the accused was nabbed.
The adulterated ghee has been sent for testing to the FDA testing lab at BKC and the FDA is awaiting the reports.
``The accused has been booked under IPC Section 272 and 273 for sale of adulterated food and drink and Section 7 of the FDA Act,'' said senior inspector Anil Kharade, Vakola police station.
The FDA had similarly nabbed a person in connection with fake labelling and selling of adulterated ghee on August 6 at Andheri (E).