Dhara mustard oil manufacturers fined Rs 2.4 cr for adultration
A Delhi court has imposed a fine of Rs 2.4 crore on National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for manufacturing Dhara mustard oil which found to be adulterated leading to epidemic dropsy which left over 50 people dead and 3,000 people ill in the year 1998.
Deciding on a verdict for one of the oldest cases in the particular court after 19 years, Metropolitan Magistrate Ashu Garg imposed the fine in 12 cases with a fine of Rs 20 lakh each in individual cases.
Considered one of the most tragic cases, the Delhi oil poisoning had led to a massive crisis following which raids were conducted at several places in the capital. Samples of Dhara mustard oil were collected from various grocery shops and sent to the Public Analyst (PA) for inspection, which confirmed the presence of Argemone oil, an adulterant which can cause dropsy, glaucoma and even blindness in humans.
The matter was also taken up in the Lok Sabha in 2000, which led to the ban of loose sale of mustard oil to avoid more health hazards among the people.
In 12 separate judgments, the court held that “the manufacturing company would undoubtedly be the most responsible for the offence as the substantial …read more