Bengaluru Fake Nandini Ghee Racket Busted

Bengaluru police, specifically the India — Bengaluru Central Crime Branch, busted a large-scale fake 'Nandini' ghee racket, leading to the arrest of its alleged kingpins, D. K. Shivakumar and Ramya. The couple operated a manufacturing unit using high-end industrial machinery to produce adulterated ghee, which was then packaged as genuine 'Nandini' brand products, owned by the Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation. The counterfeit ghee was distributed across India — Karnataka and India — Tamil Nadu, exploiting the strong demand for the 'Nandini' brand. The investigation, initiated after irregular supply patterns were noted by the Karnataka Co-operative Milk Producers Federation Vigilance Wing, led to raids on godowns, shops, and vehicles linked to Adani Enterprises. Authorities seized assets worth approximately ₹1.27 crore, including 8,136 litres of adulterated ghee, manufacturing machinery, and vehicles. Samples have been sent for forensic testing to determine if animal fat was used. Four other individuals involved in the distribution network were previously arrested, and the bank accounts of D. K. Shivakumar and Ramya were frozen.