CCB Busts ₹1.26 Crore Fake Nandini Ghee Racket in Bengaluru; 8,136 Litres Seized

In a major crackdown on food adulteration, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) and the KMF Vigilance Wing have busted a large-scale racket producing and distributing fake Nandini ghee across Bengaluru. Authorities seized over 8,000 litres of adulterated ghee and arrested four individuals, including a KMF distributor and his son.

Operation Overview: Fake Ghee Packed in Nandini Branding

The joint team uncovered a network operating from Tamil Nadu, where adulterated ghee was being produced by mixing coconut and palm oil. The product was then packed into counterfeit Nandini-branded sachets and bottles before being transported to Bengaluru.

Key Seizures

• 8,136 litres of adulterated ghee worth ₹1.26 crore
• Four goods vehicles valued at ₹60 lakh
• Fake Nandini sachets and bottles
• Cans of coconut and palm oil used for adulteration
• Rs 1.19 lakh in cash
• Five mobile phones

Officials revealed that the accused were producing three litres of fake ghee from one litre of original ghee, resulting in massive profit margins.

Accused Used Official KMF Licences to Push Fake Products

Investigators confirmed that the adulterated ghee was supplied to a Bengaluru-based dealer with legitimate KMF licences. The dealer and his family allegedly distributed the fake ghee to retail shops, wholesale outlets, and even Nandini parlours at full market price—making the counterfeit product difficult for consumers to detect.

KMF Managing Director B. Shivaswamy also confirmed that one of the arrested persons was an authorised KMF dealer.

How the Racket Operated

Source: Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu

The CCB’s Special Investigation Squad tracked the production unit to Tiruppur district in Tamil Nadu. From there, the adulterated ghee was regularly transported into Bengaluru.

Arrested Individuals

• Mahendra – KMF distributor
• Deepak – his son
• Muniraju – transporter
• Abhi Arasu – driver of the vehicle carrying adulterated ghee

Raids were conducted at godowns, shops, and vehicles connected to Krishna Enterprises in Chamarajpet, suspected to be the local distribution hub.

Police: Racket Active for Nearly Two Years

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh stated that the racket had been running for nearly two years. Further investigation is underway to trace the main masterminds behind the Tamil Nadu production unit.

The CCB-KMF operation has exposed a massive food safety threat affecting thousands of consumers in Bengaluru. With arrests made and large quantities of fake Nandini ghee seized, authorities are now focusing on tracking the source and preventing such adulteration networks from resurfacing.

FAQs

1. What was seized in the fake Nandini ghee racket in Bengaluru?

Officials seized 8,136 litres of adulterated ghee, fake packaging materials, four goods vehicles, cash, mobile phones, and cans of coconut and palm oil.

2. Who are the people arrested in the case?

Four individuals were arrested—KMF distributor Mahendra, his son Deepak, transporter Muniraju, and vehicle driver Abhi Arasu.

3. Where was the adulterated ghee produced?

The fake ghee was manufactured in a unit located in Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu.

4. How was the fake ghee distributed in Bengaluru?

The adulterated product was supplied through a KMF-licensed dealer who distributed it to shops, wholesalers, and Nandini parlours across the city.

5. How long was the adulteration racket active?

According to police, the racket had been active for nearly two years before being busted.