The police have initiated a First Information Report (FIR) against officials and staff connected to Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit, and Zomato Hyperpure after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confiscated expired and damaged food items valued at over Rs 48 lakh. This action was reported following inspections conducted on October 14 and 15 across Thane and Pune districts.

During these inspections, the FDA uncovered that food products intended for destruction were allegedly diverted through unlicensed disposal agencies, sorting yards, and brokers, ultimately reaching consumers. The FIR was lodged at the Shanti Nagar police station in Thane and includes ten individuals, comprising senior officials and employees from the aforementioned companies, as well as operators from disposal agencies and local suppliers.

Details of the FIR and Individuals Named

The FIR has been filed under applicable sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Among those named in the report are V Subramaniam, Whole-time Director of Reliance Consumer Products Ltd; Ashok Kumar Singh from Reliance Consumer Products Ltd; and Vijay Bhikaji Kharmale, a nominee of Reliance Retail Ltd.

Additionally, Nilesh Ramdasrao Deshmukh, a warehouse manager at Reliance Retail Ltd, is also implicated. Other individuals mentioned include Arbinder Singh Dhinsa, Director of Blinkit Commerce; Deepak Singh from Blinkit Commerce; Abid Shaikh of Zomato Hyperpure; and Babar Miya Ahmed Siddiqui of B K Dispose. Furthermore, suppliers such as Gulzar Abdul Khan, Chavindra from Bhiwandi, and Abdul Mobin Khan from Discount Store in Bhiwandi are also named in the FIR.

According to FDA sources, the seized items comprised products valued at over Rs 24 lakh from a disposal yard in Bhiwandi, approximately Rs 4.92 lakh from a Reliance Consumer Products warehouse in Vadpe, and nearly Rs 7.81 lakh from Zomato Hyperpure’s facility in Usatane. The total value of the confiscated goods amounted to Rs 48,09,924.

Allegations of Misconduct and Inspection Findings

Sources indicated that expired, damaged, and customer-rejected food products, which were supposed to be destroyed, were allegedly diverted for resale. Disposal agencies reportedly issued certificates and documentation claiming that these products had been destroyed, without properly verifying the disposal process.

FDA officials identified discrepancies in disposal records, including mismatches in quantities and inconsistencies regarding the details of senders and recipients. The stock was reportedly sorted at unlicensed yards in Bhiwandi, where products deemed fit for sale were separated and sold to brokers and suppliers.

Expired and leaking items were later discovered on display at a retail outlet in Gulzar Nagar, Bhiwandi, which was operating without a valid licence or purchase bills. In response to these findings, the FDA established seven teams of assistant commissioners and food safety officers to conduct coordinated inspections in Thane and Pune districts.

Officials prepared inventories, seized the stock, collected samples, recorded statements, and prohibited the movement, sale, or destruction of the confiscated products. Following hearings on October 15, the licences of five establishments were suspended, and operations at four unlicensed premises were halted, as confirmed by an official statement.

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