The Gujarat government sealed four warehouses in Mehsana district on the night of 11 October 2026 after surprise inspections uncovered more than 1.58 lakh bags of suspected adulterated cottonseed cake, including a stock reportedly worth ₹25 crore at a single facility in Linch. The action was ordered by Animal Husbandry Minister Jitu Vaghani following a specific complaint about possible adulteration in animal feed in the Kadi area of Mehsana.

What the Inspections Found

According to the preliminary investigation, approximately 63.41 lakh kg of stock at the LTC Warehouse on Linch-Ambasan Road — estimated at ₹25 crore — was found to be expired and suspected to be adulterated. That warehouse alone accounted for around 1,28,622 bags of the total sealed stock.

Three other facilities were also covered in the sweep. At Bhavya Warehouse in Aldesan, officials found 14,125 bags, while Shubham Logistics Warehouse in the same village had 5,090 bags. Mahashakti Warehouse, also known as Amina Warehouse, in Nagrasan had 10,796 bags. The combined sealed stock exceeded 1,58,500 bags. All four warehouses are reportedly associated with the NCDEX group.

Who Conducted the Raids

Joint teams from the Mehsana District Animal Husbandry Department, the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), the Kadi Mamlatdar's office, and veterinary services carried out the inspections under the direct supervision of the Mehsana Collector. Officials collected samples of the suspected cottonseed cake using scientific methods and dispatched them for urgent laboratory analysis. On 12 October, teams continued verifying physical stock against closing balances in warehouse records.

What the Government Said

Minister Vaghani had previously warned against adulteration at the annual general meeting of the Gujarat Cotton Seeds Crushers Association, making clear the state would not tolerate practices that endangered animal health or harmed livestock farmers. 'The priority of the government is to ensure that livestock farmers in the state receive pure, safe and quality feed for their animals,' Vaghani said.

He added that those found violating standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), or selling adulterated and unfit feed, could face legal penalties, licence cancellations, and imprisonment under a newly enacted state law. The legislation has received the Governor's assent and its implementation is expected to begin shortly.

Background and What Comes Next

This crackdown comes in the context of Gujarat enacting dedicated animal feed quality legislation — a signal that the state intends to move beyond advisories to enforceable action. Cottonseed cake is a widely used protein supplement for dairy and livestock animals across Gujarat, one of India's largest milk-producing states, making adulteration a concern with far-reaching consequences for both animal health and the dairy economy.

All further action will depend on the laboratory results and the outcome of stock verification. If tests confirm adulteration, prosecutions and licence cancellations are expected under the new law.