Industrial-Scale Adulteration: The Nandini Ghee Scam Exposed
In a major crackdown on food adulteration, Bengaluru police have arrested a couple from Mysuru who allegedly masterminded a sophisticated fake Nandini Ghee operation that turned every litre of genuine product into four litres of adulterated counterfeit. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) took Shivakumar and Ramya into custody after they fled following the initial bust of the racket.
The Elaborate Operation Uncovered
The police investigation revealed an extensive network that used industrial-grade machinery to mass-produce fake ghee bearing the trusted Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) Nandini brand. According to authorities, the couple had been operating this adulteration business for several years, with similar cases already pending against them.
During raids conducted by CCB officials, law enforcement seized massive quantities of evidence including 8,136 litres of adulterated ghee, large stocks of coconut oil, palm oil, hydrogenated vegetable oil, four goods vehicles used for transportation, and specialized packaging machinery. The total value of seized items amounts to approximately Rs 1.27 crore.
Police also confiscated Rs 1.19 lakh in cash during the operations and subsequently froze Rs 60 lakh from the accused couple's bank accounts, significantly impacting their financial operations.
Distribution Network and Insider Involvement
The counterfeit ghee distribution spanned two states, with the fake product being supplied to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu markets. Police confirmed that the couple had established a reliable distribution network that included Nandini outlets and local grocery stores in Bengaluru and neighboring regions.
Shockingly, the investigation uncovered insider involvement from KMF personnel who allegedly assisted the racket operators. This insider help enabled the counterfeit products to enter legitimate supply channels, making detection more difficult for consumers and authorities.
Before apprehending the masterminds, CCB had already arrested four individuals connected to the distribution network. These included KMF authorized distributor Mahendra, his son Deepak, and their associate Muniraju, indicating the scale of the operation.
The Adulteration Process Revealed
The modus operandi involved a systematic process where genuine Nandini Ghee was transported to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu. There, in hidden facilities, the authentic product was diluted with palm oil, coconut oil, and hydrogenated vegetable oil in precise proportions to maintain the appearance of pure ghee.
The most startling revelation was the dilution ratio - every single litre of genuine Nandini Ghee was used to produce four litres of fake product, effectively quadrupling their profits while compromising product quality and consumer safety.
The sophisticated repackaging operation used industrial machines to recreate the authentic Nandini packaging, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish between genuine and adulterated products.
Discovery and Ongoing Investigation
The scam came to light when KMF's vigilance team noticed unusual fluctuations in their supply chain. After conducting their own preliminary investigations, KMF officials alerted Bengaluru city police, triggering the series of raids that eventually uncovered the extensive racket.
Following their arrest on Wednesday, Shivakumar and Ramya have been remanded to 10-day police custody for further interrogation. Authorities are investigating the full extent of the network and identifying all individuals involved in the multi-crore scam.
This case highlights growing concerns about food adulteration in India and the sophisticated methods employed by unscrupulous operators to compromise trusted food brands for substantial illegal profits.
