Overview

In West Bengaluru, two residents caught a street food vendor selling unsanitary Pani Puri using spoiled ingredients. Police took Pavan Kumar into custody, released him on bail, and issued a warning.

Keshav, a rickshaw driver, noticed Kumar collecting water from a nearby borewell tank on September 29. When Keshav questioned him, Kumar claimed the water was for washing dishes. Suspicious, Keshav followed Kumar to his food cart with his friend Vijay. There, they discovered Kumar using the contaminated water to make the spiced water (pani) for the snack. They also found rotten potatoes, spoiled onions, and unwashed coriander leaves in the ingredients.

Street Vendor Charged for Unsanitary Food Practices

Outraged, Keshav alerted the Basaveshwara Nagar police, who filed charges under sections 271 and 272 of the Indian Penal Code for selling food that could spread infections. “I was shocked to learn that Kumar had been selling unsanitary Pani Puri for three years,” Keshav said.  Keshav now inspects ingredients more carefully when buying from other street vendors.

In a separate incident in Hyderabad, a woman died and 15 others fell ill after eating momos from street vendors in Banjara Hills last week.

Source: Hindustan Times