For Rs 1K/day, Ludhiana firm cleared spurious milk samples

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 4

An initial probe into the illegal milk unit that allegedly manufactured adulterated milk using poultry feed as an ingredient to double the quantity suggests the two accused arrested in the case gave milk company employees a bribe of Rs 1,000 per day for approving the samples. The idea to use poultry chicken feed as an ingredient to double the quantity of milk was allegedly floated by Supreme Dairy, a Ludhiana-based unit, employees.

It has come to light that the two accused were into dairy business for over five years. The police today booked two Supreme Dairy employees — Umesh and Pritam Singh — in the case.

“Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet, main accused, had 52 customers and were running a dairy business for five years. Two years ago, they signed an agreement with Supreme Dairy in Ludhiana, under which they supplied full-fat milk to the firm,” said Jaswant Singh Mangat, Samana DSP. “The accused had all machinery needed in the business,” he said.

“Harpreet had signed a 16-year agreement with the company and was collecting milk from nearby villages. He would double the milk quantity by mixing it with poultry feed. The idea to add poultry feed in milk was given to him by Supreme Dairy employees,” said Mangat.

The two Supreme Dairy employees named in the FIR today would transport the milk and check adulteration. “They would accept Rs 1,000 per day and not report adulteration to company officials,” he said.