Couple from Mysuru held in fake Nandini ghee racket
Bengaluru: The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested a couple from Mysuru in connection with a major racket involving the sale of adulterated ghee under the Nandini brand. The couple, identified as Shivakumar and his wife Ramya, were allegedly running a high-tech illegal manufacturing unit in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu.
The arrest follows an earlier operation where the CCB nabbed four individuals, including a distributor of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) products. According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Thursday, the CCB has frozen Rs 60 lakh in the couple’s bank accounts, suspecting that it could be proceeds from the alleged crime.
Investigations revealed that Shivakumar and Ramya were linked to a larger network involved in producing and selling fake Nandini ghee. They had been manufacturing adulterated ghee and distributing it under the Nandini brand.
In a joint operation between the CCB and KMF’s vigilance wing, the authorities arrested Mahendra, a distributor of KMF products, his son Deepak, and Muniraju, who oversaw the transportation of adulterated ghee from Tamil Nadu. Abhi Arasu, the driver involved in the operation, was also arrested on November 14.
A substantial quantity of goods, including 8,136 litres of adulterated ghee, valued at Rs 1.26 crore, four vehicles, and a large amount of coconut and palm oil were seized. The adulterated ghee was produced by mixing one litre of original ghee with three litres of fake ghee, added the report.
The fake ghee was packaged in sachets and plastic bottles bearing the Nandini logo and supplied to Bengaluru-based KMF distributors. The accused also distributed the adulterated product to wholesale and retail shops, including Nandini outlets across the city.
The joint team raided godowns and shops and seized goods vehicles of Krishna Enterprises at Nanjamba Agrahara, Chamarajpet, owned by one of the accused and his family members.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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