Delhi police seized an astonishing 15 tons of spurious spices that were produced at two factories in the Karawal Nagar area of northeast Delhi and arrested three people, including the owners of these manufacturing facilities.
According to a senior police officer, on Sunday, the suspects and owners of the manufacturing units Dilip Singh (46), Sarfaraj (32), and Khurseed Malik (42) were supplying these adulterated spices to the local markets and vendors in Delhi/NCR for the same price as the authentic products.
DCP Rakesh Paweriya (crime branch) said that among the recoveries, rotten rice and leaves, wood dust, spoiled millet, chili heads, acids, and oils were used in the manufacturing of counterfeit products. He also said that the police were informed about the involvement of several manufacturers and retailers in northeast Delhi in the manufacturing and sale of adulterated spices under various brands.
Based on this information, a team was formed, and raids were conducted on May 1. DCP Rakesh Paweriya said that during the operation, Singh was found operating one of the manufacturing units, where he was manufacturing adulterated turmeric using non-edible and banned substances such as spoiled leaves, rice, wood dust, millets, chili heads, acids, and oils.
The officer also said that despite their attempts to flee, both Singh and Sarfaraj were arrested and interrogated. During the questioning, Singh admitted to being the owner of the production unit, and Malik confessed to supplying these adulterated spices. Additional inquiries led to the identification of another manufacturing unit on Kali Khata Road, Karawal Nagar, where Sarfaraj was arrested for producing adulterated spices.
DCP Pawariya added that the Department of Food and Safety was notified, which conducted inspections and collected samples of the recovered contaminated spices from both facilities. Subsequently, a case was registered under relevant sections of the law, and all three accused were arrested.
The police said that both the manufacturing unit owners were not only cheating the public by producing adulterated spices but also risking their lives. During the questioning, Singh and Sarfaraj confessed that they had set up their units in 2021 to make more profits by manufacturing adulterated spices. Previously, Malik had been involved in the sale and purchase of clothes before entering the adulterated spice market in the year 2019. He also purchased a tempo for their supply.
According to the police, the suspects have been under judicial custody while additional investigation remains in progress.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/SB)
