Bengaluru Police Nab Couple Behind Fake Nandini Ghee Racket

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) on Wednesday arrested a couple alleged to be the masterminds of a large-scale counterfeit ghee operation in the city, NDTV reported.

Shivakumar and his wife Ramya were taken into custody after investigators linked them to a manufacturing unit producing fake ghee under the popular 'Nandini' brand, owned by the Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers' Federation (KMF).

The duo had set up an advanced facility equipped with high-end industrial machinery to churn out adulterated ghee in bulk, it reported, citing the Bengaluru Police.

The raid, carried out by the CCB's Special Investigation Squad in coordination with KMF's Vigilance Wing, led to the seizure of all equipment used in the racket. Four other individuals involved in day-to-day operations had been arrested earlier.

The probe began on November 14 after irregularities in supply chains raised suspicion. Acting on a tip-off, investigators tracked the network to Krishna Enterprises in Chamarajpet's Nanjamba Agrahara, which allegedly served as the main distribution hub. Subsequent raids on godowns, shops, and vehicles exposed the scale of the racket.

Police seized a vehicle transporting pre-packaged adulterated ghee from Tamil Nadu. During the raids, the authorities have serized assets worth ₹1.26 crore, including 8,136 litres of spurious ghee valued at nearly ₹57 lakh, blending oils such as coconut and palm oil, five mobile phones, ₹1.19 lakh in cash, and four Bolero goods carriers worth ₹60 lakh.

Authorities have sent samples for forensic testing to determine whether animal fat was mixed into the product. Officials said the racket exploited the trust and demand surrounding Nandini, one of South India's most respected dairy brands, by pushing adulterated ghee into the market under its name.