Imposes Rs 12 lakhs fine, 6 months imprisonment
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: A Budgam court has convicted two businessmen including the owner of a spices company for sale of adulterated turmeric in Kashmir.
In his detailed judgment, Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Judicial Magistrate Budgam has said that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing a case beyond the reasonable doubt against Rajiv Khera Son of Late Om Prakash Khera resident of Amritsar 15 Besant Avenue Punjab for manufacturing ‘Z-Gold Turmeric powder’ having lead in the product and declared unsafe and substandard by the Referral Laboratory of Kolkata as well as during the trial of the matter.
The court has also convicted Syed Ibrahim Rizvi Son of Late Haji Mohammad Abdullah Rizvi resident of Magam distributor of the product for selling adulterated Z-Gold Turmeric powder.
The court has convicted both the accused for the commission of offences under sections 51, 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, imposing a fine of Rs 5.00 lacs each. Both the accused have been also fined Rs. 1.00 lacs and 6 months of imprisonment.
The sale of Turmeric product that has led to conviction of these two persons contained lead and people with pre-existing kidney, nerve or circulatory disorders or with skin or eye problems may be more susceptible to the effects of this substance.
Thy same judge had convicted a milk sales company for mixing detergent during the processing of its milk products. “This is not first case where it has come to the surface that various products manufactured by the companies contains lead in Turmeric Powder, detergent in Milk, urea and other dangerous chemicals in other eatable products and in this behalf prosecution has been launched against the accused persons,” the court has said in its latest judgment.
The judge has further added: “The various companies are facing similar cases before various courts, therefore, the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused company is ruled out. The Apex Court of the State has also taken cognizance sumo motto against the same offences.”
The court has also appreciated the sincerity of the Food Safety Officer (FSO) Beerwah for her style and dedication displayed during the investigation of the substandard turmeric samples. “The manner, style and dedication displayed by the complainant namely Sakeena Bano FSO Beerwah this court is very much impressed and all the orders passed till date by this court shall merge with this final judgment that she needs appreciation and to be appreciated by the higher ups as well for conducting neat, clean and transparent investigation into the matter,” reads the judgment.
Pertinently, on April 4, the same judge had held Khyber Agro Farms private limited guilty for selling substandard and unsafe milk.
Besides imposing a fine of Rs 9 lacs on the company the court had ordered six months imprisonment to the In-Charge operations of the company. The court had also declared Food Analyst Kashmir either incapable or dishonest and has ordered for his immediate removal.
SRINAGAR, Dec 30: A Budgam court has convicted two businessmen including the owner of a spices company for sale of adulterated turmeric in Kashmir.
In his detailed judgment, Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Judicial Magistrate Budgam has said that the prosecution has succeeded in establishing a case beyond the reasonable doubt against Rajiv Khera Son of Late Om Prakash Khera resident of Amritsar 15 Besant Avenue Punjab for manufacturing ‘Z-Gold Turmeric powder’ having lead in the product and declared unsafe and substandard by the Referral Laboratory of Kolkata as well as during the trial of the matter.
The court has also convicted Syed Ibrahim Rizvi Son of Late Haji Mohammad Abdullah Rizvi resident of Magam distributor of the product for selling adulterated Z-Gold Turmeric powder.
The court has convicted both the accused for the commission of offences under sections 51, 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act-2006, imposing a fine of Rs 5.00 lacs each. Both the accused have been also fined Rs. 1.00 lacs and 6 months of imprisonment.
The sale of Turmeric product that has led to conviction of these two persons contained lead and people with pre-existing kidney, nerve or circulatory disorders or with skin or eye problems may be more susceptible to the effects of this substance.
Thy same judge had convicted a milk sales company for mixing detergent during the processing of its milk products. “This is not first case where it has come to the surface that various products manufactured by the companies contains lead in Turmeric Powder, detergent in Milk, urea and other dangerous chemicals in other eatable products and in this behalf prosecution has been launched against the accused persons,” the court has said in its latest judgment.
The judge has further added: “The various companies are facing similar cases before various courts, therefore, the presumption of innocence in favour of the accused company is ruled out. The Apex Court of the State has also taken cognizance sumo motto against the same offences.”
The court has also appreciated the sincerity of the Food Safety Officer (FSO) Beerwah for her style and dedication displayed during the investigation of the substandard turmeric samples. “The manner, style and dedication displayed by the complainant namely Sakeena Bano FSO Beerwah this court is very much impressed and all the orders passed till date by this court shall merge with this final judgment that she needs appreciation and to be appreciated by the higher ups as well for conducting neat, clean and transparent investigation into the matter,” reads the judgment.
Pertinently, on April 4, the same judge had held Khyber Agro Farms private limited guilty for selling substandard and unsafe milk.
Besides imposing a fine of Rs 9 lacs on the company the court had ordered six months imprisonment to the In-Charge operations of the company. The court had also declared Food Analyst Kashmir either incapable or dishonest and has ordered for his immediate removal.
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