Surat police and food safety officials seized 1,694kg of suspected adulterated ghee and related materials from a makeshift warehouse in Abrama ahead of the Navratri-Diwali festive season, arresting three people in connection with the case.
The raid was conducted at warehouse No. 18 in Madhav Campus on Umra-Abrama Road after police received a tip-off. Officials alleged that suspected adulterated ghee was being manufactured and sold from the premises. Food safety officers joined the Utran police operation and took possession of the stock, raw materials, machinery and equipment found at the site.
Utran police inspector HR Goswami said three people had been arrested: Sunny Modi, 26, Kishan Modi, 26, and Kalpesh Modi, 47. According to the police, all three are engaged in business. The source report did not specify the charges filed or whether laboratory testing of the seized material had been completed.
The seized stock included 795kg of loose ghee valued at Rs 4.76 lakh and 900kg of Saahas Premium Cow Ghee valued at Rs 5.4 lakh. Officials also confiscated 35 boxes of Dalda ghee, with each box weighing 15kg, and valued the consignment at Rs 1.15 lakh.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of 32 boxes of refined soybean oil. Each box weighed 15kg and the material was valued at Rs 97,408. In addition, officials confiscated 300 sachets of 35ml Saahas Premium Ghee, valued at Rs 6,000.
The total value of the seized stock, raw materials, machinery and equipment was estimated at Rs 18.21 lakh. The presence of machinery and manufacturing equipment at the warehouse indicates that the enforcement action covered not only packaged products but also the alleged production setup, according to details in the police account.
The seizure comes before the Navratri-Diwali festive period, when demand for ghee and other food products typically increases. In this case, however, the authorities have described the material as suspected adulterated ghee; the supplied report does not establish the final composition or safety status of the products through laboratory findings.
Food safety officials seized the material and initiated legal proceedings in connection with the suspected food adulteration. The next formal steps will depend on the investigation and the proceedings arising from the seizure.
