Bengaluru Couple Arrested as Masterminds Behind Major Fake Nandini Ghee Manufacturing Racket

All the machinery utilized in the production operations has been confiscated.

Bengaluru:

Following the recent bust of a counterfeit 'Nandini' ghee operation in Bengaluru, authorities arrested a husband and wife on Wednesday who were identified as the masterminds behind the scheme. Officials stated that the couple, Shivakumar and Ramya, managed a manufacturing facility where they produced fake ghee under the 'Nandini' brand, which is legally owned by the Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation (KMF).

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police conducted a raid on the facility, where they discovered large-scale, sophisticated machinery being used to produce the counterfeit ghee. According to officials, the couple had been employing advanced industrial equipment to manufacture fake 'Nandini' products on a substantial scale.

All equipment involved in the production processes has been seized by authorities.

Previously, four men connected to the operation of this racket were apprehended.

The four arrested individuals were identified as Mahendra, Deepak, Muniraj and Abhiarasu.

Nandini, recognized as one of South India's most trusted dairy brands, enjoys immense market demand, which the accused exploited by manufacturing adulterated ghee and marketing it as genuine product. The fraudulent operation was uncovered after suspicious supply patterns triggered internal investigations. On November 14, a joint team comprising members from the Central Crime Branch Special Investigation Squad and the KMF Vigilance Wing tracked down the operation based on confidential intelligence.

The investigators raided multiple locations including godowns, shops, and vehicles associated with Krishna Enterprises in Chamarajpet's Nanjamba Agrahara, which was believed to be the central distribution hub.

During the enforcement operation, authorities intercepted and seized a vehicle transporting adulterated packaged ghee from Tamil Nadu. The police also confiscated assets worth Rs 1.26 crore, including 8,136 liters of adulterated ghee valued at Rs 56.95 lakh, machinery used for manufacturing fake ghee, coconut and palm oil used for adulteration, five mobile phones, Rs 1.19 lakh in cash, and four Bolero goods vehicles estimated at Rs 60 lakh.

Officials are currently conducting tests to determine if animal fat was incorporated into the counterfeit ghee.