Mumbai Police Bust Milk Adulteration Racket in Dahisar East, Four Arrested
Unit 12 of the Mumbai Police Crime Branch busted a major milk adulteration network operating in Dahisar East and Vasai East, arresting four men involved in diluting milk with dirty water and packaging it in counterfeit pouches of reputed brands. The arrests followed raids on a packaging factory in Palghar and an operation in Dahisar East on July 9, uncovering a supply network that had been distributing fake milk packets across Mumbai and its suburbs since 2021.
According to the police, the investigation began on July 9 when officers from Unit 12 raided a location in Dahisar East based on a specific tip-off. During the raid, investigators discovered workers cutting open milk packets of established brands such as Amul and Gokul, diluting the contents with dirty water, and resealing the bags for sale to consumers.
At the Dahisar East location, officers seized approximately 470 litres of milk valued at Rs 29,750, along with 13,000 counterfeit empty Amul milk bags, plastic materials, adulteration equipment, and four mobile phones. The total value of the seized items from this initial raid was estimated at Rs 10.79 lakh.
Following the initial raid, crime branch officers identified the alleged key operative behind the supply chain and tracked him down to Telangana, where he was arrested. During interrogation, the main accused disclosed the existence of a manufacturing unit producing fake branded packaging material in Palghar district.
Based on this information, police raided a factory situated in Lakshmi Industrial Estate at Valiv Phata in Vasai East, Palghar. At the facility, officers found machinery used to manufacture counterfeit Amul milk packaging. The team seized fake Amul bags and manufacturing machinery valued at around Rs 10 lakh from the site.
Police identified the four arrested individuals as Lingya Ganta, 42, Saidul Jingli, 33, Yadya Batulla, 46, and Ramul Bodopalli, 65. Investigators stated that the primary accused had allegedly been supplying fake milk pouches to local adulteration units operating across Mumbai and its suburban areas since 2021.
A case has been officially registered at the Dahisar police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act. Police said the operation succeeded in dismantling the entire network involved in both the manufacturing of counterfeit packaging and the sale of adulterated milk.
