Key Update

Vishal Singhal, owner of Jai Durga Dairy in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, was fined ₹5,000 for selling adulterated paneer in 2021. After the case reached court, he pleaded guilty and requested leniency, setting the stage for a swift judgment.

The case traces back to January 8, 2021, when authorities registered an FIR after detecting suspected adulteration at the dairy. A food safety team led by Officer Umashankar inspected the Sihani Gate outlet and collected paneer samples. Subsequent laboratory analysis in Lucknow confirmed that the product was both substandard and unsafe, strengthening the case against the accused.

Court’s Ruling and Penalties

Based on the findings and the guilty plea, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Neha Badhaunia imposed a ₹4,000 fine under Section 51 of the Food Safety and Standards Act for selling substandard food. The court clearly stated that failure to pay the fine would result in 30 days of simple imprisonment. In addition, the court imposed a ₹1,000 fine under Section 59(i) for selling unsafe food without causing injury. It also ordered imprisonment until the rising of the court, with a further 10 days of simple imprisonment in the event of non-payment.

Final Outcome

During the proceedings, Singhal submitted a confession petition, voluntarily admitting the offence and seeking minimal punishment. Considering that specific sections already addressed the violations, the court dropped Section 58 and delivered the final sentence under Sections 51 and 59(i), reinforcing the importance of compliance with food safety standards.

Source: The Times of India