Surat man held for selling substandard paneer, search on for his partner; their dairy sealed

Police launched a search for Kaushik Patel, who is on the run.

According to Surat police, Surbhi dairy used to sell around 700-800 kgs of paneer a day at Rs 180 per kg, well below the market price. The market price of paneer varies between Rs 450 and 500 per kg, officers said.

Acting on a tip-off, the SOG sleuths carried out raids at a godown of Surbhi Dairy, a few days ago. A team from the Food and Safety department of the Surat Municipal Corporation accompanied the police teams during the raid. Police seized over 755 kg of paneer, which was packed and ready for delivery, from the godown. The paneer samples were later sent to the SMC laboratory for testing.

Police later carried out raids at Laxmi Industrial Estate in Sayan village, Olpad taluka, where the paneer was manufactured and seized butter, paneer, milk, and palm oil from the facility. The officials had seized all the items and sent their samples for testing.

On Monday, the SMC Food and Safety department submitted the laboratory report stating that the paneer is substandard. Following the report, officials sealed Surbhi dairy on Monday.

On Monday evening, police registered an FIR against Shailesh Patel and his partner Kaushik Patel.

Police booked both of them under BNS Sections 274 (adulteration of food or drinks intended for sale), 275 (sale of noxious food or drink), 318(4) (cheating), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 3(5)(criminal liability of individual acting with a common intention).

Surat Deputy Commissioner of police SOG Rajdeep Nakum said, “We have arrested Shailesh Patel and search is on for his partner Kaushik Patel.”

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