Noida Police Uncover Major Fake Paneer Operation
Police Operation Reveals Adulterated Paneer Racket
Late on Friday, a Mahindra pickup truck caught the attention of local law enforcement while traversing through Sector 63 in Noida. Acting on a tip-off regarding the vehicle carrying 14 quintals of adulterated paneer, the police successfully intercepted it. Their findings unveiled an alleged interstate operation that had been distributing tainted paneer in the Delhi-NCR food markets for at least six months.
Upon interrogation, the truck driver, Gulfam, a 32-year-old from Shajapur village in Aligarh, pointed to a facility in Sahajpura village where the adulterated paneer was produced. Following this lead, police raided the plant and apprehended three additional suspects: Guddu alias Rish (36), Ikhlaq (30), and Naved (20), all of whom were involved in the distribution process.
According to police reports, this racket has been operational for the past six months, selling the adulterated paneer to street vendors and small eateries in Delhi and Noida at prices between Rs 180 and Rs 220 per kilogram, significantly lower than the market rate.
The police detailed that the production of this adulterated cottage cheese was highly organized. At the facility, large sacks of starch-rich agricultural beans, known as 'Red Bull Sortex Clean,' were soaked and boiled. To achieve a milk-like appearance, chemical whiteners and poster colors were added, followed by an unidentified blue chemical to curdle the mixture, giving it paneer-like characteristics. After cooling and straining, the final product resembled genuine paneer blocks.
Another method of producing the fake paneer was discovered, utilizing milk powder instead of beans. This mixture was combined with 'Palmolin,' an industrial oil, to create a creamy texture. Chemicals were then added to solidify the mixture into blocks that mimicked the earlier batches.
A case has been registered at the Sector 63 police station under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with further arrests anticipated as police continue to trace all vendors and buyers linked to this operation.
Food safety officials, who were called in post-arrests, identified the materials as a significant health hazard. A food safety officer remarked, 'Palm oil and poster color are not merely adulterants; they pose serious health risks.' Samples of the suspected paneer have been sent for laboratory testing, and legal actions under the Food Safety and Standards Act are expected based on the results.
The police stated, 'The accused produced adulterated paneer from the recovered materials and sold it as authentic paneer, deceiving shopkeepers in the NCR.'
To identify fake paneer, tests using iodine tincture and the pancake method may be employed. Real paneer remains unchanged when iodine is applied, while starch-based paneer turns black.
In footage from the police operation, officers at the Sahajpur facility are seen removing the adulterated paneer from cloth packaging. The facility, located in an unremarkable building, contained sacks of powder, drums of oil, and machinery used to create cheese-like blocks.