Major Breakthrough in Fake Nandini Ghee Scam: Masterminds arrested
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Central Crime Branch (CCB) Police have achieved a significant breakthrough in the sensational fake Nandini ghee manufacturing and distribution case by arresting the alleged kingpins, a couple from Mysuru.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Shivakumar and his wife, Ramya. CCB investigations confirmed the couple were the masterminds behind the entire operation, which involved setting up a sophisticated fake production unit in neighboring Tamil Nadu.
High-Tech Unit in Tamil Nadu:
According to CCB DCP-1 Shriharibabu, the accused couple established their adulterated ghee factory across the border. A raid on the unit uncovered large, high-tech machinery and advanced equipment used to manufacture and re-package spurious ghee under the popular Nandini brand label. The police have seized all the machinery.
The couple’s fake products were distributed across Karnataka. It was revealed during the investigation that a distribution network, previously busted by the CCB on November 14th, was distributing the adulterated ghee produced by Shivakumar and Ramya.
Financial Assets Frozen and Further Investigation:
The Nov. 14 raid on a godown in Chamarajapet, Bengaluru, initially led to the seizure of 8,136 liters of fake ghee and the arrest of four distributors. The current arrests are the culmination of the follow-up investigation.
The CCB has since frozen approximately Rs 60 lakh in the couple’s bank accounts. Samples of the seized adulterated ghee have been sent to the FSL (Forensic Science Laboratory) for analysis to determine the substandard materials used in the mixture. It has also emerged that the couple had a similar case registered against them in Mysuru previously.
The CCB is currently intensifying its interrogation of the couple to uncover the full extent of the network and identify all areas where the fake products were distributed.
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