Raipur, Chhattisgarh – In a major pre-festival crackdown, the Food and Drug Administration department in Raipur has seized over 1,500 kilograms of fake paneer. The operation comes ahead of major festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day. Simultaneously, the department raided illegal phenyl and acid manufacturing units in the areas of Gudhiyari, Bhathagaon, Tatibandh and surrounding regions. Significant amounts of hazardous materials were seized in both cases, and legal proceedings have been initiated.
Acting on the information, a team comprising food safety officers Siddharth Pandey, Ehsan Tigga, and Satish Raj conducted a joint operation at Raipur railway station and Bhathagaon bus stand on Monday, leading to the seizure of 1,535 kilograms of paneer. The stock was linked to Shri Dairy & Sweets, Boriya Khurd. The estimated market value of the seized paneer is approximately Rs 3.34 lakh.
During the investigation, Proprietor Saurabh Sharma was present, and legal samples were collected from loose paneer, Magic Malai Paneer (packed), and Sudha Amrit Paneer (packed). The entire paneer stock has been sealed and stored securely on the premises according to regulations. Random inspections are also underway at 10 other establishments in the city.
In a parallel development, the Food and Drug department also raided illegal phenyl and acid manufacturing units in the Gudhiyari, Bhathagaon, Tatibandh areas. It was revealed that these factories were manufacturing acid along with phenyl, which was in violation of regulations. These chemicals lacked proper labeling, warning signs, and chemical composition information. The acid was highly corrosive, posing serious risks to skin, eyes, and the respiratory system. The department has sealed the factories and initiated legal action.