The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food business licence of Blink Commerce Pvt. Ltd.’s facility in Bhiwandi and an FIR has been registered over its failure to provide verifiable records confirming the safe disposal of expired and unsaleable food products.
The licence suspension came into effect on October 22, 2026, while the FIR was registered at Bhiwandi Taluka Police Station on October 23, 2026.
18,405 Food Items Found Expired or Unfit for Sale
The action followed an inspection at Blinkit’s facility in Pagaon, Bhiwandi taluka, where officials identified 18,405 food items valued at ₹32.71 lakh that were classified as expired, damaged or unfit for sale.
According to the FDA, the company failed to provide independently verifiable evidence demonstrating that the identified stock had been transported through authorised channels and safely destroyed.
FDA Flags Gaps in Disposal Records
During the investigation, officials identified gaps in the documentation relating to the movement and disposal of the affected food products.
The records reportedly missing included:
- Weighment slips and transportation details
- E-way bills and goods receipt notes
- CCTV footage and time-stamped photographs
- Certificates confirming the destruction of the products
- Supporting documentation from disposal agencies and vendors
Blink Commerce director Vijay Rajpurohit attended a hearing and submitted agreements with two disposal agencies. However, the FDA stated that the agreements alone were insufficient to establish that the stock had actually been transported and destroyed. Supporting documents relating to four other vendors were also not provided.
FIR Registered Under Food Safety and Other Laws
The FIR has been registered under Sections 318(4), 275, 61 and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 59(i) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The registration of the FIR does not, by itself, establish guilt. The roles of the company officials, vendors, disposal agencies and other intermediaries remain under investigation.
Following the suspension, Blink Commerce is barred from conducting food business under the affected licence. The FDA has also directed that the stock in question must not be sold, transferred, moved, repacked, relabelled or disposed of without prior written directions from the competent authority.
Maharashtra FDA Expands Enforcement Drive
The action against Blinkit forms part of a wider enforcement drive by the Maharashtra FDA.
Inspections conducted by seven teams on October 14 and 15 across Bhiwandi, Ambernath, Chakan and Nighoje uncovered expired or spoiled food stock valued at ₹48.09 lakh.
The FDA has also suspended licences at premises associated with Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Zomato Hyperpure and Blink Commerce in Nighoje.
Authorities are investigating whether food products handed over for authorised disposal were actually destroyed or diverted through intermediaries back into the market.
Focus on Safe Disposal and Food Safety Compliance
The case highlights the importance of maintaining traceable records for expired, damaged and unsaleable food products. Food businesses must ensure that products unfit for consumption are handled through appropriate disposal procedures and that supporting records are available for regulatory verification.
The ongoing investigation will examine the disposal process and the involvement of the parties concerned.
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