Karnataka Excise Dept seizes Rs 25 cr worth beer after lab tests show it unfit for human consumption
Mysuru (K'taka) (PTI): The State Excise Department has seized two leading brands of beer worth Rs 25 crore after a chemical test report found it "unfit for human consumption", a senior official said on Wednesday.
Apart from registering a case, the Department has initiated steps to destroy the stock, Deputy Commissioner of Excise, Mysuru Rural, A Ravishankar told reporters here.
According to him, the Excise Superintendent of Nanjangud lodged a complaint with his office on July 28 stating that Kingfisher Strong Beer and Kingfisher Ultra Lager Beer with batch number 7C and 7E, which were manufactured at the Nanjangud unit of United Breweries Limited on July 17, 2023, have sediments and, hence, they have been sent for chemical examination.
The Excise Superintendent requested that till the time the lab test report comes, the stock should be seized, the officer said.
Ravishankar said he wrote to the Deputy Commissioners of the districts and Excise Deputy Commissioners to hold back the stock with the two batch numbers. In the meantime, the samples were also sent to a lab for chemical examination.
"We received a report from the chemical examiner on August 2 saying that both the brands (with batch No. 7C and 7E) were unfit for human consumption. Following the report, we wrote to the DCs and Excise DCs to take further steps, which means those stocks should be destroyed," the Excise Deputy Commissioner said.
Sources in the department said the beer was worth Rs 25 crore.
Meanwhile, United Breweries Limited has stated that it is an isolated incident in a single batch of Kingfisher Ultra only and not Kishfisher Strong. The company is working closely with authorities to clarify the situation, it said.
"UBL identified a slight haze in a small portion of Kingfisher Ultra beer bottles produced on July 15th at our Nanjangud brewery in Mysuru. We promptly notified authorities and are actively cooperating with their investigation. This is an isolated incident in a single batch of Kingfisher Ultra only and not Kingfisher Strong.
"We have conducted an external independent lab (NABL accredited) analysis of the impacted Kingfisher Ultra batch which confirmed that the test parameters are within regulatory guidelines and therefore, poses no health risks. We are working closely with authorities to clarify the situation. Our priority continues to be quality and safety for our partners and consumers," said a United Breweries Ltd spokesperson.
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Fake currency notes with face value of Rs 2.99 lakh seized in Kolkata, one held
Kolkata (PTI): A 68-year-old man was arrested from Kolkata on Thursday morning after fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with a face value of Rs 2.99 lakh were seized from his possession, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, the Special Task Force (STF) of Kolkata Police apprehended the person from the Dharmatala bus stand area in the central part of the city, he said.
“Six bundles of FICN of Rs 500 denomination were seized from his possession. The person seems to be a member of a racket involved in fake currency note supply. A case has been filed against him and he will be produced in a local court later today,” he said.
The accused is a resident of Malda district, the officer said, adding that a probe into the matter is underway.
