Ranpur: In a major crackdown, Ranpur police seized a truck carrying 2,200 cartons of adulterated edible oil Saturday.
The truck (AP-04Y-7269) was on its way from Kakinada in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh to Sunakhala when it was intercepted by police during a routine patrolling drive in the morning. Inside each carton, 10 oil packets of 1 litre each were found to be neatly packed. The oil packets bore the ‘Ruchi’ brand name.
Police detained the truck and verified its papers, which showed that the consignment was meant for a godown in Cuttack.
The driver, upon questioning, admitted that he was taking the consignment to Gajalaxmi Bhandar in Sunakhala of Nayagarh district instead of going to Cuttack.
The disparity in the vehicle’s papers and the driver’s statement raised suspicion following which police brought the vehicle to the police station and detained the driver and his helper in this connection.
On being informed, district food inspector Nibedita Bhatt conducted a check of the oil packets and collected samples for laboratory examinations.
“The truck was seized when we noticed a mismatch in the vehicle papers and the driver’s statement before us,” said IIC Girija Shankar Rath.
“While the vehicle papers showed the stocks were meant for delivery at a godown in Cuttack the driver was heading towards Sunakhala for delivery at Gajalakshmi Bhandar in the area.”
‘Initially we suspected the stocks to have been stolen from somewhere but later on we found out the stocks to be adulterated after the truck was brought over to the police station,” Rath said. Further investigation is on, he added.
Food inspector Bhatt said the oil packets are indicative of tampering of ‘Ruchi’ brand oil. All the packets have been seized and the samples have been sent for laboratory examination. The truth can be ascertained when the examination report will be available to us, she added.
The discovery has come as an eye-opener as sale of adulterated food products is rampant in Nayagarh district.
Adulterators taking advantage of the laxity of law enforcing authorities carry out their business with impunity, residents alleged. PNN
