Browse
Log in / Register
Share
In a crackdown reported on May 5, 2026, Jaipur police dismantled a counterfeit ghee packaging operation being run from a warehouse in Jhotwara’s Factory Area. Three people were arrested, and more than 61,600 fake cartons, pouches and barcode labels were recovered, along with printing machines and delivery vehicles. The raid was part of the ongoing campaign against food adulteration in the city.
The accused were identified as Anil Agrawal, 35, a resident of Kotda Mohalla, Chaksu; Mohanlal Sharma, 42, of Maliyon ka Mohalla, Chaksu; and Yakub, 40, of Purani Basti near Nahargarh Fort. Police said Agrawal was the mastermind, while the other two assisted with storage and transport.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Prashant Kiran said Jhotwara police and the Commissionerate Special Team had been tracking the trio for about a month. With technical assistance, the teams mapped the suspects’ activities and then moved in on the warehouse in the Factory Area.
During the search, officers found 61,600 empty mono cartons, 61,600 pouch packs and 61,600 barcode labels. The packaging carried the names of popular dairy brands: Saras, Lotus, Mahan and Krishna ghee. Fake hallmarks, printed wrappers, an electric machine, a printer-conveyor, an electric weighing scale, a sewing machine, an Ertiga car and a loading tempo were all seized.
Saras Dairy officials were summoned to the warehouse to inspect the recovered material. They examined the wrappers, mono cartons and hallmarks and declared them counterfeit. Following a complaint from the company’s Rajaram office, a case was registered at Jhotwara police station under the Copyright Act and the Trade Marks Act. ACP Jhotwara Shiv Kumar Bhardwaj is leading the investigation.
The involvement of a cooperative dairy brand such as Saras is significant because it is among the most commonly used ghee brands in Rajasthan. Packaging that looks identical to the original can easily pass as genuine at a retail counter.
Investigators found that Anil Agrawal purchased blank mono cartons and wrappers from a Tonk-based supplier, Aman Jain. The material was then brought to the Jhotwara warehouse, where a printing machine was used to add brand names, dates and imitation hallmarks.
A key detail of the case is that the accused were not producing counterfeit ghee themselves. Their job was to produce and sell fake packaging to traders involved in the counterfeit ghee business. Police identified Pramod Agarwal, Shyamsundar Rathore and other unnamed traders as recipients.
The group took precautions to avoid being caught. They used different routes and vehicles for deliveries, communicated with buyers using code words, and only accepted orders from known contacts. Such steps are common in counterfeit networks because they help keep production and supply splitting.
The huge quantity of identical cartons and labels suggests the operation may have been active for several months. Police believe multiple small traders and possibly sweet shops received packaging supplies for illicit fillings.
The use of registered trademarks without permission is a serious offence under the Trade Marks Act. The design on the packaging is also protected by the Copyright Act. Together, these laws give authorities strong legal grounds to prosecute the accused, with penalties that may include imprisonment and fines.
Food safety experts point to a larger issue highlighted by this bust: counterfeiting is becoming more industrialised. By outsourcing packaging, the risk is shifted away from the actual manufacturers, making it harder for law enforcement to trace the source of adulterated products. Fake ghee is often produced using cheap oils, artificial colourings and substances that can cause health damage over time.
Consumers are advised to look for standard security features when buying ghee:
Packaging that looks faded, misprinted or slightly different from the usual retail pack should be avoided. Anyone who suspects adulterated food can report it through the FSSAI consumer helpline or to the local food safety department.
Ghee is a kitchen staple in India, and strong brand loyalty makes the market attractive for counterfeiters. Because packaging can be reproduced cheaply, criminals can sell substandard products for nearly the same price as the original, increasing profit margins.
The Jaipur action comes amid heightened food safety enforcement in Rajasthan. Officials have increased sampling of dairy products, edible oils and sweets, especially in wholesale markets and small retail shops. The police and food safety authorities have been exchanging inputs more frequently to trace adulteration networks from production to point of sale.
This raid is expected to accelerate that process. With the packaging mechanics now exposed, investigators can direct their attention to the people filling these cartons with fake ghee.
The three suspects are being questioned to identify all buyers, delivery points and people who placed the coded orders. The seized vehicles are being checked for route data and movement records. Investigators are also expected to examine financial records and call logs to establish links with buyers.
Police have not ruled out further arrests. The current investigation is focused on locating Pramod Agarwal, Shyamsundar Rathore and other traders who received the fake packaging, and on finding the places where the counterfeit ghee was actually blended and packed.
Officials said more surprise raids on warehouses and retail markets are planned in the coming weeks as part of the city’s drive against food adulteration.
