SATISH HANDA
Jind police on a clue unearthed a distillery bottling fake cold drinks in the name of popular brands Dew lemon and Mirinda in an premises on Hansi Road at Jind having displayed board in the front as a disposal goods godown. Inspector Detective Staff Satbir Singh told that the owner of distillery Jaiveer originally hailing from village Jagsi in Sonepat district was arrested along with three workers employed in the unit. During raid, police took into possession stocks worth 5500 filled bottles of 2 litre capacity, nearly 5000 empty bottles, bulk stock of fake Dew lemon and Mirinda labels, a filling cum sealing plant and few chemicals used in production of cold drinks.
Investigation revealed that Jaiveer earlier running a small scale Sarson oil and cattle feed unit in another premises started cold drinks manufacturing having license from the government to manufacture ‘Royal’ brand drinks about eight months ago and started bottling fake branded cold drinks selling in the market himself at the rate Rs 330 per case as against Rs 620 per case sold by branded companies. He told that stocks could not be disposed of due to lock down declared by the government. He disclosed that he got the idea and technique to manufacture cold drinks from U tube and invested in this business Rs 10 lakh for purchasing machinery from Delhi.
According to Dr Rajiv Food Supply Officer, cold drinks were being prepared under most unhygienic condition and there were large number of flies floating in the tank containing liquid prepared for bottling and collected samples are being sent to government laboratory Chandigarh. He further added that fake cold drinks are very harmful for the health posing a threat of vomiting, diarrhoea and Asthma. Jaiveer was arrested by police and a case was registered against him.
In another raid at Pehowa in Kurukshetra district, Pehowa police station raided a units manufacturing Desi liquor illegally at village Chanchak busting a gang of six persons including few prominent persons involved in illegal business and registered a case. Investigation revealed that Desi liquor was being sold in the market as branded wine having fake labels on the bottles. Police recovered huge stocks of empty bottles, fake labels and harmful chemicals used to manufacture liquor. According to police information, the premises was hired for manufacturing plastic goods when Punjab police team on June21 this year seized fake wine bottles in ‘Rasila Santra’ b0rand written on the bottles for ‘Sale in Punjab’ as such conducted several raids and recovered 144 cases Desi liquor from a liquor vend at village Morthali and during police investigation name of unit at village Chanchak producing Desi liquor was exposed and raid conducted. Information reveals that the partners of illicit liquor manufacturing unit on getting prior intimation had burnt down large quantity of raw material and prepared liquor stocks before police arrival . However, a case was registered against six partners in the business.
