Shantinagar police have arrested three individuals for allegedly manufacturing and selling counterfeit Amul butter in the open market in Bhiwandi.
The accused have been identified as Zeeshan Mushtaque Ansari (29) and Mohammad Mudshir Mohammad Akram Shaikh (23), both residents of Mangal Bazar Slab in Bhiwandi. Police have also named Sanjay Sirse, a salesman, as a co-accused in the case.
The incident took place in Kasimpura, Bhiwandi, between July 17 and July 18. The complaint was filed by Shubhangi Karne, a food officer with the Thane Food and Drug Administration.
According to the police, counterfeit Amul butter, packaging materials, and chemicals worth ₹1,13,000 were seized from the premises.
A food safety official stated that the raid was conducted based on a tip-off, in coordination with the local police. During the search, large quantities of fake Amul butter, fabricated wrappers, and chemicals used in the manufacturing process were found stored in a godown.
Samples have been collected from the site and will be sent for forensic testing to determine the composition and safety of the materials.
An FIR has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Kaluram Gawari, Police Sub-Inspector from Shantinagar Police Station, said, “The accused were apprehended, produced in court, and remanded to police custody. We are continuing the investigation to identify the distribution network and potential buyers of the counterfeit product.”
