Expired food products valued at Rs 48.09 lakh were seized during a Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration crackdown across Thane and Pune, with an FIR registered against 10 people linked to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit, Zomato Hyperpure, disposal agencies and local suppliers.
The FIR was registered at Shanti Nagar police station in Thane under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, an official said. The allegations relate to the diversion and possible sale of expired, damaged and customer-rejected food products that were supposed to be destroyed.
According to information reported by PTI, seven FDA teams comprising assistant commissioners and food safety officers conducted simultaneous inspections at multiple locations in Thane and Pune on October 14 and 15. Officials inventoried and seized the stock, collected samples, recorded statements and issued directions prohibiting the movement, sale or destruction of the products.
The seized stock reportedly included products worth more than Rs 24 lakh at a disposal yard in Bhiwandi, Rs 4.92 lakh at a Reliance Consumer Products warehouse in Vadpe and nearly Rs 7.81 lakh at a Zomato Hyperpure facility in Usatane. The total value recorded by the FDA was Rs 48,09,924.
The 10 people named in the case include officials and employees associated with the companies as well as operators of disposal agencies and local suppliers. The FDA’s preliminary investigation allegedly indicated that expired, damaged and rejected products meant for destruction were diverted through disposal agencies, unlicensed sorting yards and brokers before potentially reaching retailers.
A source cited in the report said disposal agencies allegedly issued certificates and other documents stating that products had been destroyed without sufficient verification that the destruction had taken place. Investigators also reportedly found discrepancies in disposal records, including mismatches in quantities and inconsistencies in consignor and consignee details.
According to the FDA’s preliminary findings, stock was allegedly sorted at unlicensed yards in Bhiwandi, where packets that appeared fit for sale were separated and supplied to brokers and local suppliers. Expired and leaking products were subsequently found displayed for sale at a retail outlet in Gulzar Nagar, Bhiwandi, which was allegedly operating without a licence or purchase bills.
Following hearings on October 15, the FDA suspended the licences of five establishments and ordered operations to stop at four unlicensed premises, an official said. The allegations remain under investigation, and the seized products, samples, records and statements will form part of the further proceedings.
