In a major breakthrough against food adulteration, the Delhi Police and the Food Safety Department unearthed an illegal unit in the city’s Bawana Industrial Area that was allegedly manufacturing counterfeit “Avtar Desi Ghee.” Officials said the factory was mixing low-grade oils with synthetic flavouring agents to mimic the aroma and texture of real ghee.
According to investigators, the joint operation followed a confidential tip-off about large-scale adulteration being carried out in the outskirts of Delhi. During the raid, police seized approximately 7,600 litres of spurious ghee packed under the brand name “Avtar Desi Ghee” and 900 litres of edible oils, including vanaspati and groundnut oil, that were used in the preparation. The entire stock, along with packaging machines, plastic containers, gas cylinders and chemical additives, was confiscated on the spot.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer-North) Hareshwar Swami said the raid was timed strategically ahead of the festive season, when the sale of ghee and sweets touches its peak. “The factory was producing fake ghee using unsafe and crude methods. Quick intervention has prevented a potential public health risk,” he said.
The factory’s on-site supervisor, Brijesh, was arrested after admitting that the operation was run under the direction of Madhav Gupta, 26, a resident of Defence Colony, who owns the property. Gupta is currently absconding. A case has been filed under sections 318(4), 274 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Bawana police station, and efforts are underway to track down the owner and identify buyers in Delhi’s wholesale markets.
Investigators revealed that the fake ghee was produced by heating and blending vanaspati and refined oils before adding colouring and essence to imitate pure desi ghee. The finished product was then filled into tins carrying forged labels and distributed through local traders. Officials described the process as “highly unhygienic and hazardous,” warning that the consumption of such adulterated fat could lead to liver, heart, and digestive complications.
A senior Food Safety officer said samples of the seized product have been sent for laboratory testing. “This kind of adulteration is becoming increasingly sophisticated. We are intensifying inspections in other industrial zones to ensure similar units are shut down before the festival rush,” the official added.
Police believe the racket may be part of a larger network supplying counterfeit dairy products to sweet shops and eateries across Delhi-NCR. Teams are now scanning CCTV footage, transport records, and digital payments linked to the unit to trace the flow of goods.
Authorities have appealed to consumers to buy ghee only from trusted, FSSAI-approved sources and to report suspicious packaging or pricing. The Delhi government is also planning a public awareness drive to educate citizens on identifying fake ghee and adulterated edible oils in the market.
Officials said the operation marks one of the largest seizures of adulterated ghee in recent months and signals a tougher stance against food fraud in the national capital.
