Adulterated milk unit raided in Gujarat's Kalavad; 1,200 litres destroyed
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Jamnagar police raided a suspected adulterated milk-making unit at a residential premises in Kalavad, Gujarat, on Tuesday, 29 September, destroying around 1,200 litres of suspected adulterated milk along with 75 kg of vegetable ghee and 75 kg of milk-making powder. The operation was carried out following a tip-off about illegal milk preparation at the residence of a suspected trader in Jalasana village of Kalavad taluka.
How the Raid Unfolded
SOG personnel Toshifbhai Tayani, Rameshbhai Chavda, and Firozbhai Khafi received actionable information while conducting routine patrols in areas under the jurisdiction of Kalavad Town and Rural police stations. Acting on the tip, the team moved to the premises near the Shitala Mataji temple area at Kapuriya's Katha in Kalavad, where they found suspected adulterated milk actively being prepared.
The targeted premises belonged to Kanjibhai alias Kano Depalbhai Malani, identified by police as a suspected milk trader. The recovered material — roughly 1,200 litres of milk, 75 kg of vegetable ghee, and 75 kg of milk-making powder — indicated an organised operation to manufacture artificial or adulterated milk for supply.
Food Safety Department Steps In
Following the raid, Jamnagar police promptly notified the Food Safety Department. Food Safety Officer (FSO) officials arrived at the scene, collected mandatory samples of the suspected milk, and sealed the premises. The remaining stock of suspected adulterated milk, vegetable ghee, and milk-making powder was subsequently destroyed at a designated location, according to police, 'in a manner intended to prevent harm to human health and the environment.'
The FSO has since initiated further legal proceedings against the persons involved under applicable provisions of food safety law.
Senior Officers Directed the Crackdown
The operation was carried out on directions from Rajkot Division Deputy Inspector General of Police Nirlipt Rai and Jamnagar Superintendent of Police Dr Ravi Mohan Saini, both of whom had instructed their teams to identify traders adulterating everyday-use commodities and pursue legal action against them. The raid reflects a broader enforcement push against food adulteration in the region.
Context and Concern
Milk adulteration — typically involving the addition of water, vegetable fat, detergent, or synthetic compounds — remains a persistent public health concern across India, particularly in rural supply chains. The use of vegetable ghee and milk-making powder recovered during this raid fits the profile of synthetic milk production, which regulatory agencies and courts have previously flagged as a serious health hazard. This is among the more significant food fraud busts in Jamnagar district in recent months, and underscores growing enforcement pressure on adulterated dairy networks in Gujarat.
Further investigation and laboratory analysis of the collected samples are expected to determine the exact nature and extent of adulteration, with legal proceedings now underway.