PUNE: The Maharashtra food and drug administration (FDA) has prima facie established that adulterated milk was supplied to Indapur Dairy and Milk Products Ltd, popularly known as Sonai Dairy, as part of its investigation into an organised milk adulteration network, officials said on Wednesday.The FDA said milk delivery and tanker challans established a supply chain from the accused persons through Mahalakshmi Milk and Milk Products and Yogininatha Milk Suppliers to Sonai Dairy at Gokhali in Indapur, Pune district.Another route was also identified through which adulterated milk was allegedly prepared and directly supplied to Sonai Dairy, news agency PTI reported.The investigation is part of a special FDA campaign to trace the entire milk adulteration chain, including suppliers of substances used to prepare synthetic milk, their storage, milk collection and chilling centres, and processing units.According to an FDA release, two separate cases were also detected at Malshiras in Solapur district.At Mahalakshmi Milk and Milk Products in Piliv, a milk sample was found to contain detergent, while fat and milk solids-not-fat (SNF) levels were below prescribed limits. Subsequently, 7,634 litres of milk worth Rs 3.05 lakh were destroyed.The FDA said milk collected at the unit was allegedly supplied to Sonai Dairy through Yogininatha Milk Suppliers.An FIR was registered against the persons concerned, including those responsible for Sonai Dairy, PTI reported.In the second case, 9,096 litres of milk worth Rs 3.64 lakh were destroyed at Dailywish Agro Dairy Product Pvt Ltd in Piliv after a sample was declared unsafe for human consumption following the detection of detergent and sub-standard fat and SNF levels.An FIR was registered in the case.The FDA said a total of 16,730 litres of milk, valued at around Rs 6.69 lakh, had been destroyed in the two Malshiras cases, PTI reported.The wider investigation began in Manchar in Pune district, where the FDA and police had unearthed a network allegedly using skimmed milk powder, whey powder, edible oil, emulsifiers and detergent to prepare adulterated milk.Analysis of six milk samples collected from Akash Dairy Farm found all six to be detergent-positive, while supplementary reports detected Nonylphenol Ethoxylate.The FDA said 37 accused persons had been identified in the Manchar case.Of them, 25 had been arrested and a charge sheet filed, while 12 had been granted anticipatory bail. Directions were also issued for suspension of licences or registrations, or closure of business, of 26 food establishments.The food and drug administrator said the investigation had identified the roles of suppliers of whey and skimmed milk powders, emulsifiers and chemicals, persons storing such substances, milk collection and chilling centres, and other establishments suspected of involvement in adulteration.The investigation is also examining large-scale financial transactions and digital evidence dating from 2024 to June 2026 to trace the complete supply chain.The FDA said strict action would continue against those compromising public health by using unauthorised substances in milk for financial gain.Surveillance has also been intensified at milk collection centres, chilling centres, dairies and processing units across Maharashtra.(With agency inputs)
