In a significant action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the ADM Court in Pithoragarh has imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on Patanjali Ayurved Ltd (Ahmadnagar unit) for allegedly selling substandard cow ghee.
Along with Patanjali, the court also fined:
- Brahma Agencies (Distributor) – ₹25,000
- Karan General Store (Retailer) – ₹15,000
How the Case Started
The case dates back to October 20, 2020, when a food safety officer collected a sample of Patanjali cow ghee from a store in Kashani, Pithoragarh. The purchase bill traced the supply chain to Brahma Agencies and Patanjali’s Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra unit.
The sample was first tested at the State Food & Drug Laboratory in Rudrapur, where it was declared substandard. Patanjali was notified in 2021.
Second Test Also Failed
Patanjali requested a re-test by a central agency and deposited ₹5,000 for the procedure. The sample was sent to the Central Food Testing Laboratory in Ghaziabad, which confirmed in November 2021 that the product failed to meet quality standards.
Legal Action & Court Order
After reviewing laboratory reports, the department filed a case in February 2022. Following multiple hearings, the Pithoragarh court on Thursday imposed the fines and issued a warning to ensure strict compliance with food safety standards.
Patanjali’s Response
A Patanjali official rejected the allegations, calling the court order “defective and illegal.” He confirmed that the company is filing an appeal before the Food Safety Tribunal.
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