Delhi Police’s Crime Branch has exposed a major organized racket involved in importing expired food products from the UK, America, and Dubai, repackaging them with fake labels, and selling them at high-end retail stores across India. Seven individuals have been arrested, and expired food items worth approximately Rs 4.3 crore have been seized.
Massive Seizure at Sadar Bazar Warehouse
Authorities conducted raids at Pahari Dheeraj and Faiz Ganj in the Sadar Bazar wholesale market area, leading to the seizure of 43,762 kg of expired food items and 14,665 litres of beverages. The confiscated products included biscuits, chocolates, sauces, energy drinks, coffee, and snacks from leading international brands such as Nescafe, Lays, Oreo, Lipton, Starbucks, and Kewpie.
The Crime Branch’s Cyber Cell received a tip-off about the illegal operation, which prompted the investigation and subsequent raids. During the operation, police discovered an illegal repackaging facility equipped with handheld inkjet printers, sealing and taping machines, chemicals, stickers, fake labels, and barcode printing equipment.
How the Racket Operated
The mastermind behind the operation, 54-year-old Atal Jaiswal, who owns the warehouse, allegedly procured nearly expired or already expired food products at throwaway prices from countries including the UK, US, and Dubai through Mumbai-based wholesalers. These products were then brought to the Delhi facility where they underwent a sophisticated repackaging process.
The gang altered manufacturing and expiry dates, affixed fake barcodes, changed Maximum Retail Prices (MRP), and repackaged the products to make them appear fresh and legitimate. These counterfeit food items were subsequently distributed and sold through major retail chains, shopping malls, and e-commerce platforms across India, posing significant health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
Seven Arrested, Investigation Underway
Besides Jaiswal, the other arrested individuals include Shiv Kumar (40), Bishwajit Dhara (25), Vinod (43), Arun Kumar (30), Vijay Kant (50), and Shamim (30). An FIR has been registered, and further investigation is currently underway.
The Food Safety Department has also visited the site and collected samples for testing to assess the potential health hazards posed by these expired products. The seized items included baby food, chocolates, beverages, sauces, and various snacks that were deemed unfit for human consumption.
Not Foreign Dumping, But Local Criminal Operation
Officials have clarified that this case does not involve legal dumping by foreign countries, but rather represents a local criminal operation that exploited gaps in retail checks and enforcement mechanisms. The racket took advantage of weak monitoring systems to distribute potentially harmful expired food products throughout the Indian market.
Public Health Concerns and Need for Stricter Monitoring
This case highlights the critical need for stricter monitoring, greater accountability in the retail supply chain, and enhanced consumer awareness to prevent food safety risks. Authorities are urging consumers to carefully check manufacturing dates, expiry dates, and product packaging integrity when purchasing imported food items.
The investigation continues as police work to identify additional retail outlets and e-commerce platforms that may have unknowingly sold these tampered products. Consumers who suspect they may have purchased such products are advised to report to local authorities immediately.
As this major food safety scandal unfolds, the arrests serve as a stern warning to those involved in similar fraudulent activities, while emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in India’s food import and retail monitoring systems to protect public health.
