NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have busted a racket in Dwarka involving the repackaging and circulation of expired food and beverage products, arresting three men and seizing a large stock of items from multinational brands with tampered manufacturing and expiry dates, officials said on Friday. The accused—Kamal Mudgil (56), Shivam Singh (27) and Lokesh Kumar (35)—were held following a raid by the Crime Branch. Police said 3,096 cans of soft drinks of various brands and a significant quantity of biscuits with altered packaging and stickers were recovered during the operation. According to officials, a tip-off received on March 29 indicated that an illegal unit was operating in Bamnoli village, where expired or near-expiry products were being modified and pushed back into the market. Acting on the information, a raid was conducted at a godown in Sector 28, Dwarka. Shivam Singh and Lokesh Kumar were found at the premises and apprehended, while Kamal Mudgil—identified as the owner of the operation—was also arrested shortly after. Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) were called to inspect the site, verify licences and collect samples. The inspection confirmed that several products carried forged batch numbers and expiry dates, following which the items were seized. Police also recovered a printing machine used to create fake manufacturing and expiry labels, along with thinner chemicals used to erase original markings. During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted to sourcing expired or near-expiry goods, removing original details using chemicals, and printing new dates before repackaging and distributing them in the market. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, police said.
