Crime
DM Served ‘Bilseri’ Water, Orders Bulldozing of Thousands of Fake Bottles
BAGHPAT: In a surprising incident from Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh, District Magistrate (DM) Jitendra Pratap Singh was served a bottle of water labeled “Bilseri” instead of the well-known “Bisleri” brand. Upon noticing this, the DM expressed concern over the sale of counterfeit products, emphasizing that not only does it deceive consumers, but it also poses serious risks to public health. Strict action has been taken against those involved in such activities.
The incident occurred when DM Singh, along with Superintendent of Police (SP) Arpit Vijayvargiya, was inspecting a police post after a “Sampoorna Samadhan Diwas” meeting when a water bottle was placed on the table, which appeared to be a counterfeit of the “Bisleri” brand, labeled “Bilseri” instead, and lacking a valid food license number. The fake branding was an obvious imitation of the original.
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Upon discovering this, the DM immediately instructed the food safety department to investigate. Assistant Food Safety Commissioner Manvendra Singh questioned the police post about the source of the counterfeit water bottle, which was reportedly purchased from a shop in Gauripur. Further investigation revealed that the shop did not possess any legal license.
Following the inspection, a total of 2,663 counterfeit water bottles, mimicking brands like “Bilseri,” “Salari,” and “Seleri,” were confiscated and destroyed using a bulldozer. The labels of these bottles featured green-colored printing, attempting to mislead the public into believing they were genuine. Samples were collected and sent to a laboratory for quality testing, while the godown was immediately sealed due to the absence of proper licensing. Legal proceedings were initiated against the offenders, and they were instructed to obtain a valid license before resuming operations.
In further questioning, authorities learned that counterfeit water bottles were being manufactured in Haryana and distributed to various shops in Baghpat. The administration has since formed a team to take strict action against these illegal activities. DM Singh has warned that no fake food or beverage products should be sold under the guise of branded names, and those found guilty will face severe legal consequences.
The DM also ordered an investigation into the sale of old cooking oil and adulterated chutneys in local restaurants. He emphasized the importance of protecting public health and ensuring that no substandard or counterfeit food products are sold. Strict actions have been taken to curb the sale of fake products in the market.