15 tonnes of fake masala seized; wood dust, acid used in them

NEW DELHI: The coriander powder, turmeric powder, and other spices in your kitchen may not be what you think they are.
Delhi Police has seized a staggering 15 tonnes of spurious spices being manufactured at two factories in northeast Delhi’s Karawal Nagar area and arrested three persons, including the owners of these processing units.
Suspects Dilip Singh (46), Sarfaraj (32) – owners of the units – and Khurseed Malik (42) were supplying these adulterated spices to local markets and vendors in Delhi/NCR for the same price as the original products, a senior police officer said on Sunday.

The recoveries included rotten leaves and rice, spoiled millets, wood dust, chilli heads, acids and oils used in producing counterfeit products, said Rakesh Paweriya, DCP (crime branch).
Police received information regarding the involvement of certain manufacturers and shopkeepers in northeast Delhi in the production and sale of adulterated spices under various brands, DCP Paweriya said

“Acting on this information, a team was formed, resulting in raids on May 1. During the operation, Singh was found operating one of the processing units, where he was producing adulterated turmeric using non-edible and banned substances such as spoiled leaves, rice, millets, wood dust, chilli heads, acids, and oils.” said the DCP.

Despite their attempts to flee, both Singh and Sarfaraj were apprehended and interrogated. Singh confessed to be the owner of the manufacturing unit, while Malik admitted to supplying these adulterated spices, the officer said.
Further investigations led to the discovery of another processing unit on Kali Khata Road, Karawal Nagar, where Sarfaraj was caught manufacturing adulterated spices, the DCP said.

“The Department of Food & Safety was informed, which conducted inspections, collected samples of the recovered adulterated spices from both factories. Accordingly, a case was registered under relevant sections of the law, and all three accused were arrested,” added DCP Paweriya.
Police said that both the unit owners, by producing adulterated spices, were not only cheating the public but also playing with their lives.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Singh and Sarfaraj had set up their units in 2021 to make more profit by producing adulterated spices, police said, adding that Malik had been involved in the sale and purchase of clothes before venturing into the adulterated spices business in 2019 and purchased a tempo for their supply.
The suspects have been remanded to judicial custody while further investigation remains underway, police added.