A bulldozer operation was carried out in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat after District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh was served a 500 ml bottle labelled ‘Bilseri’ during a visit to a local police post.
The operation targeted counterfeit bottled water brands, including ‘Bilseri,’ ‘Bislari,’ and ‘Bisalleri.’ Jitendra Pratap Singh, surprised by the bottle’s name, inspected it closely alongside Superintendent of Police (SP) Arpit Vijayvargiya. They discovered that the bottle lacked a food licence number, prompting Singh to order a thorough investigation by the Food Safety Department. Assistant Food Safety Commissioner Manvendra Singh launched the enquiry, tracing the fake bottle to a local shop in Gauripur.
Further investigations revealed that the shop owner, Bhim Singh, was operating an illegal warehouse from his home, distributing counterfeit water bottles across the district.
Must Read: Navaratri, Durga Puja 2024: What To Look Forward To This Year
Authorities raided the warehouse, seizing 2,663 bottles with labels mimicking the original Bisleri packaging, featuring green-colored names designed to mislead consumers. Samples were taken for laboratory testing, and the fake bottles were destroyed on-site using a bulldozer. The warehouse was also shut down for operating without a valid licence, and legal action was initiated against the owner. Police later discovered that the counterfeit water was supplied from Haryana and distributed to shops across Baghpat. The District Magistrate then formed a special team to take swift action against the distribution of such fake products.
“The sale of counterfeit goods not only deceives customers but also jeopardises their health. Strict measures will be taken to eradicate such practices from the market,” Singh stated.
He also urged the public to cooperate by reporting any instances of counterfeit food products and directed the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department to inspect all shops selling fake branded items in the district.
Also Read: Meghalaya Landslides and Floods Claim 15 Lives in Garo Hills
