Team Goemkarponn
MAPUSA: In a serious breach of food safety regulations, Mapusa Police have registered an offence against three individuals for illegally ripening bananas using artificial chemicals and distributing them to the public. The incident took place at Shop No. S-39, Sub Yard, Mapusa, Bardez, Goa, between June 9 and 10, 2025. The case was filed based on a complaint lodged by Mr. Amit M. Mandrekar, Food Safety Officer with the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Bambolim. During an inspection on June 9, officials had seized a consignment of bananas suspected to be artificially ripened. The stock was handed over to one Noor Ahamad Yelleputin with instructions to preserve it until further notice. However, it was later found that Noor Ahamad, along with two others—Imtiyaz Tondur and Makbul alias Maqbool Ahamed Yelleputin—disregarded the instructions and went ahead with the sale, transport, and distribution of the chemically treated bananas.
All three accused, who are residents of Betim, Reis Magos, and Ribandar respectively, acted in common intention and were found to have knowingly endangered public health. The ripening of fruits using hazardous chemicals is strictly prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as it poses significant risks to consumers. The case has been registered under Crime No. 85/2025 at Mapusa Police Station under Sections 125, 223, 274, 275, and 326(a) read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Sections 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, and 60 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. The accused were arrested on June 10 and released on bail the same evening at 9:52 PM. The investigation is being carried out by Head Constable Pritam Dabolkar. Police have warned vendors against using banned substances in food processing and emphasized strict legal action against violators.
