Authorities in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, seized over 22,000 litres of suspected adulterated ghee valued at Rs 1.6 crore. The raid targeted two local trading firms accused of repackaging expired products and using palm oil ahead of the high-demand Diwali season.
Authorities in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district have uncovered a major food safety issue, seizing 22,138 litres of suspected adulterated ghee estimated to be worth Rs 1.60 crore. A joint task force, involving the CID Crime Branch and food safety officials, conducted raids on two local firms, Ananya Trading Company and New Vijay Trading Company, just as consumer demand for dairy products spikes ahead of the Diwali festival.
Investigations revealed a systematic attempt to profit from the festive demand. Authorities allege that the suspects were collecting expired and returned ghee from the market, then mixing it with palm oil and vanaspati sourced from Gujarat. The adulterated product was reportedly being repackaged and prepared for distribution under various brand names, including Trisalwa, Bansuri, Shrinand, and Mayra. During the operation, officials also confiscated Rs 3.50 lakh in cash, which is believed to be proceeds from these illicit sales.
Three individuals—Ram Tayal, Mukesh Kumar, and Vikas Kumar—have been taken into custody as the investigation continues. Officials at the site also recovered packaging machinery, fake labels, and unlabelled containers used in the operation. The affected premises have been sealed, and samples of the seized products have been sent to laboratory facilities to determine their exact composition. Legal proceedings against the suspects are expected to follow once the formal laboratory test reports are available.
For the dairy and consumer goods sector, such incidents highlight the persistent risks associated with the unorganized market, particularly during peak consumption periods like Diwali. While these actions involved local, non-listed trading entities, they serve as a reminder of the importance of food safety compliance in the food processing industry. Investors and consumers alike often monitor how regulatory bodies handle such cases, as strict enforcement is essential to maintaining trust in food supply chains. The next important step in this case will be the outcome of the laboratory tests and the subsequent legal actions against the accused.