7 Arrested In Delhi For Selling Expired Food Products Rs 4.3 Crore From UK, US, Dubai In India

The Delhi Police has busted a major organised racket involved in the illegal import of expired food products from the UK, America and Dubai, repackaging them and selling them at throwaway prices at high-end

stores in India.

The police have seized adulterated and expired food products worth around Rs 4.3 crore and arrested seven people, including the mastermind of the racket, after raids at Pahari Dheeraj and Faiz Ganj in the Sadar Bazar wholesale market area, according to officials.

As per officials, the racket was involved in importing expired foreign-branded food products into India, altering their expiry dates, affixing fake barcodes and repackaging them for sale across the country.

The Crime Branch’s Cyber Cell reportedly received a tip-off about an organised gang operating in Delhi’s Sadar Bazaar area, where expired international food products were being repackaged. Based on this information, the police conducted raids and seized a large quantity of expired food items.

Investigations revealed that the mastermind of the racket, Atal Jaiswal, procured nearly expired or already expired food products at throwaway prices from countries including the UK, the US, and Dubai. These products were then repackaged with new manufacturing and expiry dates, fake barcodes, and altered MRPs.

Police said the counterfeit food items were being sold through major retail chains, shopping malls, and e-commerce platforms across India, posing a major risk to public health. An illegal factory was revealed in the raids, which contained handheld inkjet printers, sealing and taping machines, chemicals, stickers, fake labels, and barcodes used in the operation.

Authorities seized 43,762 kg of food items and 14,665 litres of beverages, including biscuits, chocolates, sauces, energy drinks, coffee, and snacks from leading international brands. An FIR has been registered in the case and further investigation is underway.

A Food Safety Department team also visited the site and collected samples for testing. The accused have been identified as Atal Jaiswal (54), who is the mastermind and godown owner, Shiv Kumar (40), Bishwajit Dhara (25), Vinod (43), Arun Kumar (30), Vijay Kant (50), and Shamim (30).