Adjudicating officer (Food Safety) and additional district magistrate of Imphal East, Shamim Ahmad Shah has directed the owner of Roshan Scented Khaini to pay a fine of Rs 40,000, for violating Section 26(2)(i) and 26(2)(iv) of Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, to the officer of DO, Food Safety Administration, Imphal East district for onward deposit to the state government treasury.
The owner has been identified as Krishna Sah, son of Ramnath Sah of Turahatoli, Bihar, presently staying at Tellipati near Gm Godown FBO. The court has conducted the hearing after a complaint was filed by food safety officer, Imphal East, Sijagurumayum Puspalata Devi to take cognizance and to intimate adjudicating procedures under Section 26 (2) (i) and (iv) and Section 58 of FSSA, 2006 against Krishna Sah. A large quantity of Roshan Scented Khaini pouches were seized from Krishna Sah’s godown at Mantripukhri by Narcotic Cell, Imphal East and handed to food safety administration, Imphal East with a request to take up necessary action.
Narcotic Cell of Imphal East, after receiving reliable information of concealing some health hazard products, conducted a search on October 18, 2020 at Mantripukhri Sunil godown and seized 15,000 pouches of Roshan Scented Khaini. The seized items were marked with maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 12 per pouch, making a total value of seized items as Rs 1,80,000.
According to a food analysis report, Roshan Scented Khaini contains tobacco and hence is unfit for human consumption. The owner has violated FSSA Act which states that ‘no food business operator’ shall himself or any person on his behalf can manufacture, store, sell or distribute any article of food which is unsafe.
During the hearing on December 30, both parties were present before the court and the court perused relevant documents. Puspalata Devi opined to punish Krishna Sah according to the section that he violated. However, Krishna Sah prayed for pardon and promised that he will not repeat the act. Hence, the court has disposed of the case with a direction to fine as a penalty of violating FSSA Act, 2006.
