Mumbai, October 18, 2026: Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has widened its investigation into the alleged diversion and resale of expired, damaged and customer-rejected food products, naming executives associated with Reliance Consumer Products, Reliance Retail, Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure in a First Information Report (FIR).
According to the FDA, food stock valued at approximately ₹48.09 lakh was seized during inspections and enforcement operations across Thane and Pune. The licences of five facilities linked to the investigation have also been suspended.
FIR Names More Than 10 Individuals
The FIR was registered at Shanti Nagar police station in Thane and names more than 10 individuals associated with the companies and other entities involved in the disposal process.
Those named reportedly include Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa and executives linked to Reliance Consumer Products and Reliance Retail. The allegations remain under investigation, and being named in an FIR does not establish guilt.
Food Stock Worth ₹48.09 Lakh Seized
The FDA said it seized food products valued at approximately ₹48.09 lakh during inspections and raids.
Investigators allege that some products had expired, sustained damage or been rejected by customers. Such items were reportedly meant to be destroyed rather than returned to the market through resale channels.
Five Facility Licences Suspended
The FDA has suspended the licences of five facilities associated with the companies under investigation.
The affected locations reportedly include facilities operated by Reliance Consumer Products and Reliance Retail in Bhiwandi and Pune, a Zomato Hyperpure facility in Ambernath and a Blinkit warehouse in Pune.
Investigation Focuses on Food Disposal Chain
A central part of the investigation concerns the handling of expired and rejected products after they left company warehouses.
The FDA alleges that food stock handed over to disposal contractors was not always destroyed as required. Instead, some products may have been diverted to unauthorised sorting yards, where items were reportedly separated before being sold through local channels.
Discrepancies Found in Disposal Records
Investigators reportedly identified inconsistencies in disposal documentation, including differences in recorded quantities and discrepancies between consignor and consignee details.
Officials also allege that some disposal agencies failed to provide sufficient evidence that the food products had actually been destroyed. The investigation is examining whether these discrepancies indicate procedural failures or deliberate diversion.
Hyperpure Disposal Contractor Under Scrutiny
In the case involving a Zomato Hyperpure warehouse, the FDA reportedly found that a disposal agency identified by the company could not initially be traced by investigators.
The finding has raised questions about the verification of contractors and the documentation maintained after expired or rejected products leave warehouse premises.
Unauthorised Sorting Yards Allegedly Used
The FDA alleges that some products reached unauthorised sorting yards in Bhiwandi, where packets that appeared suitable for sale were separated from unusable stock.
Investigators reportedly found expired or leaking products displayed for sale at an unauthorised retail outlet, allegedly without valid purchase bills.
The authorities are examining how the products reached the outlet and whether the required disposal procedures were followed.
Reliance Facilities Also Face Scrutiny
During the operation, investigators seized more than 6,000 kg of stock at a Reliance Consumer Products facility in Vadpe, Bhiwandi.
Additional stock was reportedly seized from a nearby Reliance Retail facility as part of the wider enforcement action. The FDA is investigating the handling and disposal procedures followed at the affected premises.
Blinkit and Hyperpure Included in Enforcement Action
Facilities associated with Blinkit and Zomato Hyperpure have also come under scrutiny.
The FDA’s investigation is examining whether disposal procedures, contractor verification and record-keeping systems were adequate to prevent expired, damaged or rejected food from re-entering the market.
Companies Yet to Fully Respond
According to Reuters, Reliance and Blinkit did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
The investigation remains ongoing. The companies and individuals named in the FIR will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations through the relevant legal process.
FDA Commissioner Calls for Accountability
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has stressed the need for scrutiny and accountability in cases involving the alleged diversion of expired, damaged or customer-rejected food intended for destruction.
The case highlights the importance of effective disposal systems, reliable contractor records and monitoring mechanisms across food distribution and retail operations.
Wider Food-Safety Enforcement in Maharashtra
The investigation comes amid broader FDA enforcement activity across Maharashtra.
Authorities have also taken action in other cases involving alleged food-safety and hygiene violations at restaurants, hospital kitchens, canteens and fast-food outlets.
Investigation Continues
The FDA’s investigation will seek to establish whether food products intended for destruction were deliberately diverted, which individuals or contractors may have been involved, and whether existing company controls were sufficient to prevent the alleged practices.
The findings could have implications for food-disposal procedures, vendor oversight and compliance across the affected supply chains. Until the investigation is concluded, the allegations against the named companies and individuals remain unproven.
Source: Maharashtra FDA, Reuters, PTI, The New Indian Express
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