Bhiwandi warehouse raided; expired food items seized
Bhiwandi, Maharashtra — Police on Thursday carried out a raid at a warehouse in the Anjur Phata area of Bhiwandi and seized food items alleged to be expired or damaged, valued at ₹10.31 lakh, a police official said on Saturday.
The operation was conducted by officers from Bhoiwada Police Station. The stock recovered during the raid included rice, flour, packaged snacks and cold drinks. The police official provided details of the action while briefing reporters; the raid and subsequent booking were reported by PTI.
Five people have been booked in the matter under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Food Safety and Standards Act, the official said. Those named in the FIR are:
- Hafiz Abdul Majid Khan — warehouse owner
- Mohammad Arshad Mohammad Husein Sheikh (43) — manager
- Mohammad Osama Sayyad Raza (24) — tempo driver
- Abhinav Reddy — vehicle owner
- and one other person (identity as per police records)
The police official said the seized consignment comprised primarily of staples and packaged items which are commonly distributed to retailers and vendors in the area. Detailed laboratory testing will determine the exact condition of the goods and whether they were fit for human consumption.
"A raid was conducted on Thursday; stock including rice, flour, snacks and cold drinks amounting to ₹10.31 lakh was seized," the police official said, according to PTI.
Local context and likely consequences
Bhiwandi is an important logistics and warehousing hub for northern Mumbai and parts of Thane district. Warehouses in and around Anjur Phata handle large volumes of food consignments bound for wholesale and retail outlets across the region. When allegedly expired or adulterated food is found in such premises, it raises immediate public health concerns and regulatory scrutiny.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, the Food Safety Authority has the power to seize and detain foodstuffs, suspend licences and pursue prosecution. The police action may be followed by administrative action from the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) depending on laboratory results and licence status of the warehouse and associated businesses.
State-wide enforcement drive during Ganeshotsav
The seizure in Bhiwandi comes amid an intensified food-safety campaign across Maharashtra during the Ganeshotsav festival. The Maharashtra FDA announced suspension of 248 food licences and cancellation of 12 licences for serious violations between September 1 and 23. Officials said they collected 2,423 samples of sweets, khoya, dairy products, edible oil and fasting foods, and seized 6,34,362 kg of suspected adulterated stock valued at about ₹9.76 crore. The Nashik division accounted for a large portion of the seizures, the FDA statement reported.
What the police say will happen next
The Bhoiwada Police Station has registered a case and named the accused. Further procedural steps will include forensic testing of the seized items and verification of purchase and distribution records. Action under the Food Safety and Standards Act could include prosecution, monetary penalties and suspension or cancellation of licences if violations are confirmed.
| Item category | Action |
|---|---|
| Rice | Seized — sent for examination |
| Flour | Seized — sent for examination |
| Packaged snacks | Seized — sent for examination |
| Cold drinks | Seized — sent for examination |
Residents and small traders in Bhiwandi said such raids underscore the need for regular checks, especially during festive demand when large volumes of food move through the city. Police and the FDA said they will act on laboratory findings and take further steps as needed under the law.
