Koramangala Event Probe Leads to ₹1.38 Crore Seizure of Expired Food
Officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration have seized expired and improperly labelled food products worth ₹1.38 crore along with unlicensed medicines worth ₹4.02 lakh across Bengaluru, following an investigation triggered by a planned peptide party in Koramangala. Minister for Health and Family Welfare U.T. Khader announced the findings during a press conference on September 8.
Khader stated that the inspection drive began after he received a message from a media representative regarding a peptide party scheduled to take place in Koramangala. Although the party was cancelled, the minister directed officials to track the supply chain supplying such events. When questioned by authorities, the organisers explained that the concept involved introducing new pharmaceutical medicines and nutrition-based food to elite consumers, leading investigators to Amazon dark stores operating in and around the city.
Following the supply trail, officials raided a Leo 7 Enterprises unit at Lingarajpuram and shut it down after seizing expired food items worth ₹45 lakh. Authorities said the proprietor procured expired goods from various sources to sell at parties and other locations. An inspection of the premises uncovered expired and near-expiry nutritional products, beverages, chocolates, sweets, ghee, and nuts, with the owner stating goods worth approximately ₹1.56 lakh were stored inside. Officials noted that a complete inspection of the site would take another three days.
At the Amazon Hitech Defence and Aerospace Park facility in Devanahalli, inspectors seized improperly labelled food products worth ₹14 lakh and expired food worth ₹6 lakh, totalling ₹20 lakh. Unlicensed medicines valued at ₹2,45,352 were also confiscated from the unit.
A simultaneous inspection at Amazon stores in Thattanahalli village near Anekal taluk resulted in the seizure of incorrectly labelled food products worth ₹19 lakh and expired items worth ₹13 lakh, amounting to ₹32 lakh. Officials also seized unlicensed medicines worth ₹1,57,000 at the Anekal location.
Additionally, authorities closed a Swiggy Instamart facility at Hosakote in Bengaluru Rural after seizing expired items worth ₹42 lakh. The closure followed unhygienic conditions and violations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, where mislabelled and expired goods worth around ₹1 crore were found. Legal proceedings are underway under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and applicable FSSAI regulations.
Officials also inspected a retail outlet at Sapta Bazaar in HBR Layout, discovering that groceries, dairy, and vegetables purchased from e-commerce platforms were being resold past their expiry dates. Expired items worth ₹10,000, including cashew biscuits, Vijay Ragi Flour, chicken patties, paneer, and eggs, were seized.
