STF set to take over probe into ‘illegal’ halal certificates

The complaint said: “These companies are preparing these certificates targeting one specific community, and the criminal act of reducing the sale of products without these certificates is being done. I suspect that unsuitable benefits from these actions are being handed out to anti-social and anti-national elements…”

The police booked Chennai-based Halal India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi-based Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust, and the Mumbai-based Halal Council of India and Jamiat Ullema and others. The case was filed under IPC Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 298 (intent to wound religious feelings), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 505 (statements that cause public mischief).

On Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh imposed an immediate ban on halal-certified food products across the state. The ban covers the production, storage, distribution and sale of all halal-certified food products except those meant for export.