A shocking incident of food contamination has led to the arrest of a restaurant worker in Ghaziabad, highlighting ongoing public health concerns. The event occurred on Thursday night at a food outlet in the Madhuban Bapudham area and was captured on video by an alert passerby.
The Viral Video and Immediate Arrest
According to Suryabali Maurya, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Kavi Nagar, the incident came to light when a man walking past Avon Chicken Point witnessed the cook's actions. The individual saw the employee, later identified as Javed Ansari, spitting on the bread before placing it inside the tandoor for cooking.
The vigilant citizen did not just walk away. He recorded the entire act on his mobile phone and subsequently posted the footage on social media. Importantly, he tagged the local police authorities in his post, ensuring immediate official attention.
Police officers verified the authenticity of the viral video and swiftly reached the restaurant location. There, they located and detained Javed Ansari. The arrest was made later that same night. Investigations revealed that Ansari had been employed at the restaurant for only about ten days prior to the incident.
Legal Action Under New Ordinances
An official First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Javed Ansari at the Madhuban Bapudham police station. He has been charged under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The charges include Section 271, which pertains to a negligent act likely to spread infection of a disease dangerous to life, and Section 272, for a malignant act likely to spread infection of a disease dangerous to life. These charges reflect the serious nature of the offence in the context of public health.
This case is not an isolated one in Ghaziabad. It is part of a disturbing pattern that has emerged since the Uttar Pradesh state government introduced two powerful new ordinances in 2024. These are the 'Prevention of Pseudo and Anti-Harmony Activities and Prohibition of Spitting Ordinance 2024' and the 'UP Prevention of Contamination in Food (Consumer Right to Know) Ordinance 2024'.
A Pattern of Contamination Cases in 2025
The arrest of Javed Ansari marks the fourth such reported case of deliberate spitting for contamination in the city in the year 2025 alone. Police records show a series of similar incidents:
- On January 10, 2025, a man was arrested for allegedly spitting on a roti at a restaurant in the Khoda area.
- On March 5, 2024, another individual was arrested after a video showed him making roti with his spit at a wedding function.
- Later in March 2024, a 28-year-old man was arrested for allegedly spitting on a roti during a religious event in the Gagan Vihar area.
The trend extends beyond food. In a related incident on May 19, 2025, a 24-year-old man working at a salon in Dasna was arrested. A social media video showed him squeezing cream into his palm, spitting on it, and then applying it to a customer's face.
These cases collectively underscore a critical public health issue. The Uttar Pradesh government's ordinances aim to impose strict legal measures against those who tamper with food or engage in acts that could spread disease. The arrest in Madhuban Bapudham demonstrates the authorities' commitment to acting on visual evidence provided by the public, especially through social media platforms. It serves as a stern warning about the severe consequences of such negligent and malicious acts.
