• Nagamangala Sub-Division Dy.SP-led team to probe 
• District Minister K.C. Narayangowda inspects Milk Body premises

Mandya: Amidst the COVID crisis, a milk adulteration scam has been unearthed in ManMUL (Mandya Milk Union Limited), located at Gejjalagere on Mysuru-Bengaluru Highway, following which a high-level probe has been ordered.

The contractor, who is entrusted with transporting  milk, has been accused of mixing water with milk before delivering it to ManMUL and prima facie, it has been found that some employees are hand-in-glove in this scam. 

The President and a Director of ManMUL are instrumental in the unearthing of the scam, following which a probe has begun under the supervision of Nagamangala Sub-Division Dy.SP N. Naveen Kumar.

The ManMUL had awarded tender for transporting milk collected at different BMC centres in Maddur taluk on a daily basis to ManMUL at Gejjalagere. But some days after entering into the contract, the contractor wrote a letter seeking to replace the RMT tankers in which the milk was supposed to be transported as they had come for repairs. But on May 27, a milk tanker was found parked at a milk centre belonging to a private brand milk producer at Somanahalli, giving rise                                                  to suspicions. 

Acting on a tip-off, a few staff of ManMUL raided the premises and began to enquire about the ownership of the tanker, when the driver fled from the spot. Upon investigation, it was found that half of the milk was meant to be delivered at the centre, while the remaining half was to be mixed with water. It was also discovered that the tanker had different compartments for filling of milk and water, with an opening in between. On further enquiry, it came to light that the tankers were used for supplying pure milk to private dairies and water mixed adulterated milk to ManMUL.

The unearthing of the scam has shocked ManMUL, Milk producers and consumers alike. The milk producers, who are the backbone of the milk body, have urged for stringent action against those found guilty.

Reacting to the scam, Mandya District Minister K.C. Narayangowda said that he will not tolerate injustice to farmers. 

Complimenting the Board of Directors for unearthing the scam, he said that adulteration is akin to backstabbing of farmers. Assuring that the accused will be brought to book, he said that the Government will not spare anyone involved in the scam.

Former Minister and senior Congress leader N. Cheluvarayaswamy said that it is shocking to learn about adulteration of milk in ManMUL. Claiming that there is a racket behind this, he wanted the Government to conduct a probe and punish the guilty.