HC refuses to quash proceedings against Hindustan Coca-Cola over sale of ‘adulterated’ beverage
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court has refused to quash proceedings initiated against Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited by a magistrate’s court in Maharashtra’s Jalna district over the alleged sale of adulterated beverages.
During an inspection of the company’s product ‘Canada Dry’, a sweetened carbonated drink, in 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Jalna district had found some fibrous substance and cobwebs inside the sealed bottles.
A stock of 321 bottles of ‘Canada Dry’ with an expiry date of December 12, 2001, was seized on July 27, 2001. After testing, a complaint was lodged against the company before the magistrate’s court in Jalna for alleged contravention of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
In March 2010, the magistrate issued a notice to the company. The company, the India bottling business of global beverage major Coca-Cola, then moved the HC seeking quashing of the complaint and the notice.
The company in its plea claimed that there was a delay in lodging the complaint.
Justice Y G Khobragade of the Aurangabad bench of the HC on December 11 this year declined to grant relief, holding that the beverage maker had not made out any ground for the proceedings to be quashed.
After the pronouncement of the order, Hindustan Coca-Cola sought the extension of an earlier order granting an interim stay on criminal proceedings for another eight weeks.
However, the bench refused to extend it, allowing criminal proceedings against the company, stalled for around 14 years, to continue.
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Surveillance intensified in Bengal border districts as killers of Suvendu's PA may flee out of state
Kolkata (PTI): Police stations in border districts of West Bengal intensified surveillance and searches as investigators suspect the involvement of professional shooters from neighbouring states in the killing of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide, a senior officer said on Friday.
The police are also investigating the role of local criminals who might have provided logistical support to the assailants, he said.
More than 36 hours after Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath was assassinated by motorcycle-borne gunmen at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, the police are yet to make any arrest.
“A detailed investigation is underway. The manner in which the attack was carried out suggests extensive reconnaissance and the possible involvement of hired sharpshooters from outside the state,” a senior police officer told PTI.
He also said all police stations in border districts have been alerted.
"Checks are being carried out at multiple points, and CCTV footage from areas along Jessore Road is being thoroughly scanned,” another senior officer said.
According to probe findings, the gunmen allegedly followed Rath’s vehicle before launching the attack.
“The escape route of the gunmen indicates that they were familiar with the locality, or local criminals might have assisted them. Without local support, fleeing through the lanes so quickly would have been difficult,” the officer added.
The police, however, are yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder.
The police and detective department officers have launched extensive searches in and around Madhyamgram near Kolkata.
Heavy deployment of police and central forces has also been made in the area since the murder occurred on Wednesday night.
"A motorcycle used in the crime was registered in 2012 in the name of a resident of Burnpur in Asansol. However, the police found that no person by that name currently resides at the address given during the vehicle registration process," another officer said.
