In a significant ruling, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Pithoragarh has sentenced three individuals to six months in jail and imposed fines for their involvement in distributing substandard soan papdi.
The convicted individuals include Lila Dhar Pathak, a businessman; Ajay Joshi, a distributor; and Abhishek Kumar, an assistant manager at Patanjali. Pathak was fined Rs. 5,000, Joshi Rs. 10,000, and Kumar Rs. 25,000.
The case began in 2019 when concerns were raised about the quality of Patanjali Navratna Elaichi Soan Papdi sold at Pathak’s store in Berinag’s Main Market. Following a complaint, a food safety inspector collected samples from the store on October 17, 2019, and issued notices to the distributor, Kanaha Ji Distributor in Ramnagar, and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. in Haridwar.
Forensic testing conducted in May 2020 at the state food and drug testing laboratory in Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar, confirmed the substandard quality of the product. By December 2020, the food safety department had received a conclusive report, leading to multiple hearings.
The court’s decision to impose jail time and fines under Section 50 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, underscores the importance of maintaining food safety standards. “The evidence presented in court clearly demonstrated the substandard quality of the product,” a food safety officer stated.
This ruling serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of failing to comply with food safety regulations.