The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized 358.4 kg of filtered groundnut oil from Garden Vadapav Center in Pune Camp after suspecting the product to be substandard, the agency said in an official press note. The seizure, valued at ₹71,918, was made on October 9 as part of a wider festive-season inspection drive across Pune division.
The establishment, identified in the press note as Garden Vadapav Center at Gawali Wada, was cited for alleged violations under Sections 23, 26 and 27 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The FDA said samples of the seized oil would be sent for laboratory analysis. Further legal action will be taken after the test reports are received.
The action formed part of inspections at 25 establishments across Pune, Sangli, Solapur, Satara and Kolhapur districts. In total, officials seized 74,612.11 kg of edible oil valued at ₹1,28,73,047.60. The drive targeted oil suspected to be substandard or unsafe, along with labelling and other compliance violations.
Pune district accounted for the largest share of the seizure, with 34,481.1 kg of oil worth approximately ₹58.90 lakh confiscated from eight establishments. The FDA reported seizures of 12,518.6 kg from Sant Tukaram Oil Mill in Dehu and 12,434.3 kg from Laxmi Enterprises in Aale, in Junnar taluka.
According to the agency, inspections at establishments in the district and elsewhere identified non-functional laboratories, the absence of chemists, inadequate purchase and production records, incorrect labelling, reused packaging tins, shared oil pipelines and licensing irregularities. The other Pune district establishments named in the drive were Sameer Enterprises in Baramati, Meera Agro Oil Industries in Chakan, Sanch Farms Pvt. Ltd. in Mulshi, Praj Traders in Market Yard and Shree Ramkrishna Oil Mills in Shukrawar Peth.
The FDA reported additional seizures of 18,156 kg of oil worth ₹29.03 lakh in Kolhapur, 13,490.4 kg worth ₹25.33 lakh in Solapur, 5,948.15 kg worth ₹11.41 lakh in Satara and 2,536.46 kg worth ₹4.07 lakh in Sangli. Directions to stop business were issued to Rajaram Annappa Phalle in Sangli, according to the press note.
The agency said the special drive was intended to ensure that consumers receive safe and good-quality edible oil during the festive season. It warned food business operators that stringent action would be taken for non-compliance.
Consumers can report food-quality complaints or suspected malpractice through the FDA’s toll-free helpline, 1800222365, or through its Food and Drug Grievance Portal. The status of the seized oil and any further action against the Pune Camp establishment will depend on the laboratory reports and subsequent legal process.
