In a major festive season crackdown, the Delhi Police busted an adulterated desi ghee racket, arrested six men, and seized 1,625 kg of spurious stock from three illegal units, officials said on Thursday. The Central Range of the Crime Branch arrested the men following coordinated raids in Shiv Vihar, Karawal Nagar, and Mustafabad. The police said the units in North-East Delhi were being operated on a large scale to exploit the surge in demand during Dussehra and Diwali. In the first raid at Shiv Vihar, 520 kg of duplicate ghee was recovered, and one accused, Safiq, 30, was arrested. A second raid in the same locality led to the arrest of four men, including 50-year-old Yusuf Malik, described by police as a habitual offender previously arrested for similar crimes. His son Mehboob, 22, and two Ghaziabad residents, Shakir and Sharukh, were also arrested. The police said that 440 kg of spurious ghee, gas cylinders, stoves, and chemical substances were seized. The third raid in Old Mustafabad led to the arrest of Zamaluddin, 40, and the recovery of 665 kg of adulterated stock. “During interrogation, the accused disclosed that they purchased Dalda (vanaspati ghee) and cheap refined oil in bulk, which were heated and mixed to imitate pure desi ghee. To mimic authentic flavour, chemical-based flavouring agents, synthetic colour, and unsafe substances were added. The product was then packed in tins and packets resembling genuine brands and supplied to dairies, shops, and distributors, especially during the festive season. This crude and hazardous process not only deceived consumers but posed a serious health risk,” Vikram Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, said. The police added that each tin cost the racketeers about Rs 1,300-Rs 1,400 to produce and was sold for Rs 3,500-Rs 4,000 in the market. A case has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, on charges including adulteration, along with sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Officials said the seizure averted a major public health risk ahead of the festival season. Further investigation is underway to identify other members of the racket’s supply chain.
