Maharashtra FDA files FIR against Reliance, Blinkit and Zomato over expired food sales

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration conducted a coordinated raid in Thane and Pune districts on October 14-15, confiscating food products valued at ₹48,09,924 that were expired, damaged or rejected by customers. The regulator’s preliminary probe indicated that these items, intended for destruction, were rerouted through disposal agencies, unlicensed sorting yards and brokers to reach retailers. Police filed a first one outlet's report at Shanti Nagar police station in Thane, naming ten individuals—including V Subramaniam, Ashok Kumar Singh, Vijay Bhikaji Kharmale, Nilesh Ramdasrao Deshmukh, Arbinder Singh Dhinsa, Deepak Singh, Abid Shaikh and others—from Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure, as well as disposal operators and suppliers.

Seized stock comprised more than ₹24 lakh from a Bhiwandi disposal yard, ₹4.92 lakh from Reliance’s Vadpe warehouse and about ₹7.81 lakh from Zomato Hyperpure’s Usatane plant. FDA officials found mismatched quantities and inconsistent consignor-consignee details in disposal records, and observed saleable packets being sold while expired, leaking goods were displayed at an unlicensed outlet in Gulzar Nagar, Bhiwandi. Following the raid, five licences were suspended and four illegal premises were ordered to cease operations.