Cops crack down on fake ghee manufacturing unit

The Delhi Police have busted a large-scale spurious desi ghee manufacturing unit in the Alipur area here and seized 1,500 kg of fake clarified butter and 55 litres of synthetic essence used to prepare it, an official said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of the Outer North district on Tuesday raided the premises of Bansal Agro Food Industries in Kheda Kalan. “The factory was manufacturing and packaging fake desi ghee under multiple popular brand names for supply across Delhi and neighbouring states,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) V Hareshwar Swami said.

He said officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were alerted after the initial tip-off, and a joint team conducted the raid following due legal procedures under the new law.

“During the search, the team found large quantities of ready-to-distribute spurious ghee stored in tins, cartons and packets. FSSAI officials also collected samples for laboratory testing,” the DCP said.

According to the police, the unit was being operated by Gyanendra Singh, a resident of Burari, who has allegedly been manufacturing fake desi ghee since 1995 and shifted operations to the current premises in 2014.

“Singh supplied the product across the national capital and adjoining states. The total seizure includes 50 tins (15 litres each), 10 cartons containing 30 packets (500 ml) each, nine cartons of 1 litre packets, two tins of another brand (15 litres each), 21 tins of 15 litres each, eight tins of 15 litres each and 11 plastic cans of 5 litres each, along with several brands of synthetic essence,” he added.

A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.