Jun 2, 2012

1,000 litre adulterated milk seized, 11 held

MUMBAI: Eleven people were arrested and more than 1,000 litre adulterated milk was seized by officials of the Food and Drug Administration, who along with the local police, conducted raids on four places in the city early on Friday, observed as World Milk Day in many countries.

Though the raids were carried out in Kandivli, Khar, Dharavi and Indira Nagar in Mulund, the operations in Kandivli and Khar were successful. The accused rounded up are mostly slum dwellers who change their residences often. "They buy branded milk packets from the market in the wee hours. After that, they make a small slit on each of the packets with a blade, remove up to 250 ml milk and fill the packet with water before sealing it again with wax," said FDA officer Amar Kolhe.

Around 5am, the officials swooped down on seven places in Khar, including Chaupada chawl, Dhanpada chawl and Gazdar Bandh near Santa Cruz. At the end of the operation, eight persons were arrested and 572 litre adulterated milk was seized. Among the branded products were Gokul, Amul and Mahananda, an official said. The accused have been identified as Laxmi Nalmaddi (30), Dhanlaxmi Chirkute (20), Chandrana Nalmadi (35), Narsimha Nalmadi (20), Ravindra Gauda (28), Ganesh Bundida (19), Balamani Bomgani (20) and Somlata Mudinalla (24).

Acting on a complaint lodged by a resident, Jaywantlal Shah (57), the police visited Kandivli and arrested three persons, Raju Yadaiya (23), Yadgiri Salla (26) and Gasaiya Papaiya Nanu (30), in Lalajipada. They seized 450 litre milk. "The raid was carried out around 5.30am. We have held several raids in Lalajipada in the past as well," senior inspector Hareshwar Pimple said. All 11 have been booked under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, besides provisions of the IPC.