The food safety department has uncovered a large-scale fake desi ghee manufacturing racket during raids at four locations in the city, including Kalyanpur. A unit operating without a valid licence was found producing ghee using refined oil, vanaspati and synthetic essence, which was then packed in wrappers of multiple brands and supplied to several districts of Uttar Pradesh and other states. Goods worth ₹25 lakh were seized and the main unit was sealed.
The operation was led by Assistant Food Commissioner (II) Sanjay Pratap Singh. At the Kalyanpur Awas Vikas site, a rented premises operating under the name Vijay Trading Company was being used by proprietor Aman Gupta to manufacture fake desi and “pooja” ghee. As the team arrived, workers fled the spot while the operator locked himself inside, citing illness in an apparent attempt to avoid questioning. The door was later opened and no valid food licence could be produced.
Officials recovered thousands of litres of ready-to-sell fake ghee, packaging material and wrappers of several brands — including Extra Fresh, Cooking Medium, Sadhana and Shri Bhog — bearing a Delhi address. Preliminary findings indicate the product was being distributed to Prayagraj, Varanasi, Gonda, Basti and other locations. About ₹5.5 lakh worth of stock was seized from this unit alone, six samples were collected and the premises was sealed.
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Raids were also conducted at Jay Bajrang Bali Traders in Damodar Nagar, where mustard and palmolein oil samples were taken. Drums containing 198 litres of mustard oil and 798 litres of palmolein oil were sealed. Another inspection at M/s Riddhi Traders in Vijay Nagar was carried out. In Jajmau’s Tiwari area, a kachri manufacturing site was found storing around 1,350 kg of coloured kachri valued at nearly ₹1 lakh.
Across all four locations, food items were being produced in unhygienic and poorly maintained conditions. In total, the team seized around 14,000 litres of oil and large quantities of kachri. All samples have been sent for laboratory analysis, and further legal action will depend on the test results.
Officials said Aman Gupta had been running the fake ghee operation for a long period by renting multiple premises. A complaint has been filed at Kalyanpur police station against the operator.
If the samples fail quality standards, strict action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, which provides for heavy penalties and imprisonment. The department has advised consumers to avoid buying loose or unusually cheap ghee without verifying brand authenticity.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
