Maharashtra FDA conducts statewide crackdown on food adulteration, seize Rs 3.95 crore worth items; 21 held

The Food and Drugs Administration FDA has carried out a largescale coordinated crackdown across Maharashtra seizing adulterated and banned food products worth more than Rs 395 crore The statewide operation also led to the arrest of 21 people and the sealing of 17 establishmentsThe action was conducted on Wednesday 10 June 2026 as part of an intensified food safety driveThe raids were carried out under the FDArsquos ongoing campaign titled ldquoSafe Food Safe Drug Safe Maharashtrardquo following instructions from FDA Commissioner Tukaram MundheOfficials said the operation targeted illegal manufacturing storage transport and distribution networks involved in banned tobacco products such as gutka and pan masala as well as adulterated food itemsThe crackdown covered major regions including Mumbai Konkan Pune Nashik and Nagpur17 establishments sealed 21 arrestedDuring the coordinated raids officials inspected multiple locations and identified violations at 21 sites A total of 17 premises were sealed immediatelyThe officials also seized banned gutka worth Rs 144 lakh and confiscated a transport vehicle valued at Rs 25 lakh in the Konkan regionPolice have registered FIRs under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS and the Food Safety and Standards Act against the accused individualsRegional breakdown of enforcement actionMumbaiThree establishments were raided leading to three arrests and sealing of all premisesKonkan DivisionThe largest action was reported in Konkan with 13 raids resulting in 14 arrests and 11 sealed establishmentsPune One raid led to one arrest and sealing of one establishmentNashikTwo locations were inspected resulting in one arrest and sealing of two premisesNagpurTwo entities were targeted leading to two arrestsLarge seizures of adulterated food itemsApart from tobacco products the FDA also seized over 107000 kilograms of adulterated and unsafe food materials valued at approximately Rs 394 croreIn Solapur officials intercepted over 73494 kilograms of suspected substandard coloured betel nuts supari valued at more than Rs 3 croreIn Dhule a vehicle carrying 24500 kilograms of adulterated betel nuts worth over Rs 73 lakh was stopped The consignment was reportedly being transported from Karnataka to DelhiIn Andheri Mumbai officials seized 917 kilograms of unlabelled and artificially coloured tea powder worth over Rs 2 lakhOther seizuresFDA officials also inspected 13 food business units and confiscated items such as edible oil milk dairy products ghee mawa peda drinking water and jaggeryPune recorded the highest seizure volume at over 77286 kilograms followed by Nashik with 29247 kilograms and Greater Mumbai with 9584 kilogramsAll seized samples have been sent to laboratories for chemical analysisCitizen reportingMahesh Choudhary Joint Commissioner Food FDA Headquarters urged citizens to report any suspected food adulteration or unsafe practicesHe said complaints can be filed through the FOSCOS portal the Food Safety Connect mobile application or a tollfree helpline at 1800222365He added that citizens should provide full details including location and nature of the complaint to enable swift action by authorities