Health and Family Welfare Minister Tulsi Silawat here on Monday ordered to book those found guilty of preparing synthetic milk and dairy products under National Security Act (NSA).
Couple of days ago, the Special Task Force (STF) had busted an inter-state gang in Bhind arresting 62 persons and seized 10,000 litres of synthetic milk and other products including 500 kg of spurious 'mawa' or condensed milk and around 200 kgs synthetic cottage cheese in the operation.
The STF also had recovered 2,275 kg maltodextrin during the raids. By spending Rs 5 per litre in the production of spurious milk, the racket used to sell it for Rs 40 to 45 a litre.
The arrested persons were allegedly supplying highly toxic synthetic milk and milk products like mawa and cottage cheese to branded outlets in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, he said.
Addressing officers of Controller Food and Drugs Administration on Monday, Silawat claimed synthetic milk and other products are highly harmful for the public. The minister ordered officers to form flying squads at state and district level.
He ordered divisional commissioners, district collectors and Superintendents of Police to book such elements involved in production of synthetic milk under NSA and warned any slackness in this regard would invite stringent action.
Apart from proposed raids to be conducted across the state, an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed for carrying out action in Gwalior-Chambal region, the hub for such activities.
Notably, Gwalior-Chambal region in Madhya Pradesh is known for producing spurious milk, ghee, mawa and other products.