FSSAI officials stumble upon bank office at Lucknow's Nestle godown

LUCKNOW: During a surprise inspection carried out at a store house/godown of Nestle India in Unnao's Shuklaganj area, officials of FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) were surprised to find a 'full-fledged' branch of State Bank of India working on the address, which as per records of FSSAI houses the godown/store house of Nestle India. The interesting development came to fore on Friday (August 14), when the the central licensing authority of FSSAI had gone to Unnao to conduct an on the spot checks of the godowns of Nestle India. 

Confirming the incident, Manisha Narayan, central licensing authority of FSSAI Lucknow, said, "As per the records in FSSAI office, there are 5 warehouses/godowns (having valid licence) of Nestle India in Unnao's Shuklaganj area. However, when we reached there, we found that a branch of SBI was functioning in a full-fledged manner on the address available with us." She further added that as per laid down provisions, the company has to surrender its licence if it wishes to change the location of its godown or go for a closure (provided the validity of the licence remains intact). FSSAI officials later told that further investigations are on. 

Prior to this, police had lodged an FIR against Nestle India Limited in Banthara police station of Lucknow. Ram Murti Yadav, station officer of Banthara police station, said, "FIR against Nestle India Limited has been lodged under sections 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 507(criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) of the Indian Penal Code. The noodle stock of the company (Nestle India Limited) has been seized." 

Elaborating more about the FIR, Manisha Narayan, said, "The FIR, which has been lodged following the police complaint made by me, is against Balbir (in-charge of the company's godown in Banthara) and other employees of Nestle India. In my complaint, I had categorically mentioned Nestle India (as a party)." 

On August 13, the stockist of the Nestle India along with his men allegedly misbehaved with 3-member FSSAI staff, who had gone to the Banthara store house to take Maggi noodles into their custody. Recalling the ugly moments, Manisha, said, "On August 13, when we were doing our job (after issuing the seizure memo), the employees of the godown said that do whatever you can. We do not care." She further added that FSSAI staff was virtually pushed out of the store house, the loaded trucks emptied and the store house subsequently locked.