Police have filed an FIR against a Reliance Consumer Products director and nine others after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized food stock worth ₹ 48 lakh during a multi-district crackdown on diversion and sale of expired, damaged and rejected food products, an official said.
The FIR was registered at the Shanti Nagar police station in Thane. It names 10 accused, including senior officials and employees associated with Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure, along with disposal agency operators and local suppliers.
The FDA formed seven teams, comprising assistant commissioners and food safety officers, to conduct the coordinated inspections in Thane and Pune districts. Officials inventoried and seized the stock, collected samples, recorded statements and issued directions prohibiting the movement, sale or destruction of the seized products.
FDA’s preliminary investigation indicated that expired, damaged and customer-rejected food products meant for destruction were allegedly diverted through disposal agencies, unlicensed sorting yards and brokers before reaching retailers for sale to consumers, a source told PTI.
