FIR against Reliance, Blinkit, Zomato staff after Rs 48 lakh food seizure

The Maharashtra FDA seized expired and damaged food products worth Rs 48 lakh during raids in Thane and Pune, prompting an FIR against 10 people linked to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit, Zomato Hyperpure and disposal agencies.

In Short

• FDA seized products worth Rs 48 lakh in Thane and Pune raids
• Expired goods diverted via disposal agencies and unlicensed yards
• Five licences suspended, four unlicensed premises shut after inspections

Police have registered an FIR against officials and employees linked to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized expired and damaged food products worth more than Rs 48 lakh during raids across Thane and Pune districts, news agency Press Trust of India reported.

The action followed inspections conducted at several locations on October 14 and 15. The FDA's preliminary investigation found that food products meant for destruction were allegedly diverted through disposal agencies, unlicensed sorting yards and brokers before being sold to consumers.

The FIR, registered at Shanti Nagar police station in Thane, names 10 people, including senior officials and employees associated with the four companies, disposal agency operators and local suppliers. It was filed under relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Those named are V Subramaniam, Whole-time Director of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd; Ashok Kumar Singh of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd; Vijay Bhikaji Kharmale, nominee of Reliance Retail Ltd; and Nilesh Ramdasrao Deshmukh, warehouse manager at Reliance Retail Ltd.

The others named are Arbinder Singh Dhinsa, Director of Blinkit Commerce; Deepak Singh of Blinkit Commerce; Abid Shaikh of Zomato Hyperpure; Babar Miya Ahmed Siddiqui of B K Dispose; supplier Gulzar Abdul Khan; Chavindra of Bhiwandi; and Abdul Mobin Khan of Discount Store in Bhiwandi.

FDA sources told PTI that the seized stock included products worth more than Rs 24 lakh from a disposal yard in Bhiwandi, around Rs 4.92 lakh from a Reliance Consumer Products warehouse at Vadpe and nearly Rs 7.81 lakh from Zomato Hyperpure's facility at Usatane. The total value of the seizure was Rs 48,09,924.

A source told PTI that expired, damaged and customer-rejected food products meant to be destroyed were allegedly diverted for sale. Disposal agencies allegedly issued certificates and other documents claiming that the products had been destroyed without adequately verifying the process.

FDA officials also found discrepancies in disposal records, including mismatches in quantities and inconsistencies in the details of senders and recipients.

The stock was allegedly sorted at unlicensed yards in Bhiwandi, where packets that appeared fit for sale were separated and sold to brokers and suppliers, the source said. Expired and leaking products were later found displayed for sale at a retail outlet in Gulzar Nagar, Bhiwandi, which was operating without a licence or purchase bills.

The FDA formed seven teams of assistant commissioners and food safety officers to carry out coordinated inspections in Thane and Pune districts. Officials prepared inventories, seized the stock, collected samples, recorded statements and prohibited the movement, sale or destruction of the seized products.

After hearings on October 15, the licences of five establishments were suspended and operations at four unlicensed premises were stopped, an official told PTI.

- Ends
With PTI inputs.