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Odisha Trader Arrested for Operating Fake Spice Unit
- •Odisha Police arrested a 40-year-old trader named E Koteswar Patra for allegedly operating an illegal spice-processing unit in Berhampur.
- •Authorities seized huge quantities of suspected adulterated turmeric, chilli powder, ginger and garlic pastes, and machinery during the raid.
- •The accused is a repeat offender with multiple prior cases involving cheating, copyright violations, and food safety offences.
- •Police confiscated around 1500 kg of loose turmeric powder along with prohibited chemical food colours from the facility.
- •A case has been registered against Patra and three of his associates under various sections of the BNS and Food Safety and Standards Act.
Key Questions Answered
Odisha Police arrested a 40-year-old trader named E Koteswar Patra for operating an illegal spice-processing unit that produced adulterated products. Authorities seized large quantities of suspected adulterated spices, machinery, and prohibited chemical food colours from the facility in Berhampur.
Police seized around 1,500 kg of loose turmeric powder, over 1,000 kg of packaged chilli and turmeric powder, 1,728 kg of ginger and garlic pastes, and 20 packets of prohibited chemical food colours. Machinery and factory milling equipment used to process and repackage these substances into commercial and smaller bags were also confiscated.
A case has been registered against Patra and three associates under various sections of the BNS, Food Safety and Standards Act, and Prevention of Food Adulteration Act. Police noted that Patra is a repeat offender with prior cases for cheating, copyright violations, trademark breaches, and food safety offences, and seized samples are being sent to the Food Testing Laboratory for chemical examination.