Baghpat District Magistrate, Jitendra Pratap Singh, was served a 500-ml water bottle labelled 'Bilseri' during a visit to a local police post in the UP district. When the DM examined the bottle, it turned out to be fake. Singh immediately directed the Food Safety Department to check the purity of the water.
Police officials told Assistant Food Safety Commissioner Manvendra Singh that they bought the water bottles from a shop in Gauripur Jawaharnagar village. As the investigation proceeded, it was found that Bhim Singh, son of Gaje Singh of Gauripur Jawahar Nagar, was supplying fake brand water bottles to other shops in the district. He had set up a warehouse of water bottles in his house without a licence.
2,663 Bottles Destroyed By Bulldozer
Assistant Food Safety Commissioner Manvendra Singh seized over 2,600 water bottles on the spot and sent the water samples to a laboratory. As many as 2,663 bottles were immediately destroyed by a bulldozer.
The warehouse was sealed and closed with immediate effect. When the accused Bhim Singh was questioned, it was found that fake brand water bottles were supplied from Haryana to other shops in the Baghpat district. In this regard, the District Magistrate has formed a team and instructed it to take action when required. He said no fake food or beverages should be sold to the general public in the name of the original brand and if anyone is found selling them, strict action will be taken against him.
The district magistrate urged people to check the brand label carefully and see the manufacturing and expiry dates before consuming food items.