You can be mistaken about the identity of several of the spices in your kitchen, including coriander powder and turmeric powder. Three people, including the owners of these processing facilities, have been detained by Delhi Police after they recover an astounding 15 tons of fake spices that were produced at two companies in the Karawal Nagar neighborhood in northeastern Delhi.
A senior police officer stated on Sunday that suspects Dilip Singh (46), Sarfaraj (32)—the proprietors of the units—and Khurseed Malik (42) were selling these tainted spices to Delhi/NCR local markets and vendors for the same price as the authentic ones.
According to Rakesh Paweriya, DCP (criminal branch), among the recoveries were rotten rice and leaves, spoilt millets, wood dust, chili heads, acids, and oils used in the production of counterfeit goods. Police were notified that several manufacturers and retailers in northeast Delhi were involved in the fabrication and selling of contaminated spices under different labels, DCP According to Paweriya, “a team was formed based on this information, and on May 1st, raids were conducted.”
Singh was discovered running one of the processing units during the investigation, using prohibited and inedible materials such rice, millets, wood dust, rotten leaves, chilli heads, acids, and oils to produce tainted turmeric.” The DCP stated.
Even though Sarfaraj and Singh tried to escape, they were both caught and questioned. According to the officer, Singh acknowledged owning the manufacturing facility, and Malik acknowledged providing these tampered spices. Subsequent inquiries yielded the identification of an additional processing facility situated on Kali Khata Road, Karawal Nagar, where Sarfaraj was apprehended for producing tampered spices, according to the DCP. ”
After receiving notification, the Department of Food & Safety carried out inspections and gathered samples of the contaminated spices that were found in both companies. As a result, all three of the accused were taken into custody and a complaint was filed under the applicable legal provisions, DCP Paweriya continued.
According to the police, by manufacturing contaminated spices, the two unit owners were not only defrauding the public but also risking their own lives. Singh and Sarfaraj admitted during questioning that they had established their units in 2021 in order to increase profits from the sale of adulterated spices, according to the police.
Malik, on the other hand, had previously been involved in the sale and purchase of clothing before entering the adulterated spice market in 2019 and having acquired a tempo for their supply. According to authorities, the suspects have been placed under judicial custody pending the completion of additional investigation.
