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The alleged mastermind of a major milk adulteration racket in Gurudijhatia area of Cuttack has been arrested. The accused, identified as hotel owner Prakash Khuntia, was taken into custody along with his associate Sudhir Tiwari on Saturday. Both were produced before the court following their arrest.
According to police sources, Khuntia was the key conspirator behind the operation. Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo had been adulterating milk by mixing it with powder and chemicals, raising serious concerns about public health.
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The illegal activity was being carried out in a facility located behind a hotel near Kusupangi under the Gurudijhatia police station limits. During the raid, police seized a milk tanker used in the racket.
Authorities said further investigation is underway to ascertain the scale of the operation and identify others who may be involved.
Questions Over Investigation
Reports indicate that the milk adulteration racket in Cuttack’s Gurudijhatia had been operating for several days. The hotel owned by the prime accused allegedly served as a front to conceal the illegal activities.
Meanwhile, questions are being raised over the police’s silence on the progress of the probe and their reluctance to clarify whether any influential individuals are involved. Investigators suspect that more people could be linked to the case.
Supply Chain Under Scrutiny
According to reports, milk was sourced from Sambalpur and later sent to an established company. However, details regarding the tanker’s origin and the company’s identity have not been revealed.
Usually, the milk is tested after being collected from farmers at the nodal centres and again at the processing company. This has raised concerns over whether company employees were complicit, allowing the racket to continue undetected for days.
Background of the Case
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The case came to light following a late-night raid near a hotel in Kuspangi on September 10, where police uncovered the illegal adulteration operation. Though several accused, including the driver, fled the scene, authorities seized the milk tanker and equipment used in the process. Samples are undergoing further analysis to assess the potential health hazards from the adulterated milk.
