Mysore/Mysuru: Former Mysuru Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa has blamed the management of Mysuru District Cooperative Milk Producers’ Societies’ Union Limited (MyMUL) for the flourishing adulterated ghee racket under their very nose.

Addressing a press conference at Patrakarthara Bhavan in city yesterday, he said that people trust Nandini products and as such, the responsibility of MyMUL has increased manifold to control imitation and adulterated products. But gross neglect by the management and also the parent Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has led to many thriving adulterated units, he said.

The major adulteration racket thrived at the foot of Chamundi Hill and despite MyMUL Office located near the place and in spite of teams working to check adulteration, the racket was operating since the last five months. “If one purchases Nandini ghee at Nandini outlets, the buyer has to pay Rs. 15 extra and the same ghee if purchased at malls and shopping complexes, this Rs. 15 excess is not charged. Can the MyMUL clarify if it is original or adulterated,” he asked.

Joining the debate was Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda who found fault with MyMUL administration and alleged that it was playing with the health of the people by indirectly allowing the adulteration  racket to thrive.

He questioned how the hologram, Nandini logo, FSSAI licence number and other legal measures are duplicated. He suspected the involvement of MyMUL and KMF insiders.

 “The Nandini ghee sachets and other KMF milk products containers and covers are manufactured in Gujarat. How did the racketeers access those,”  he questioned.

Mahalakshmi Sweets clarifies

Following social media posts that Mahalakshmi Sweets, a reputed sweatmeat shop in Mysuru was using adulterated ghee to make its products, the owners have clarified that they purchase ghee only from authorised dealers and directly from KMF and they have not purchased even a single packet of imitation ghee.

In a press release, Shivakumar, who owns the chain of sweet outlets, stated that some mischief mongers have publicised that Mahalakshmi Sweets was the biggest purchaser of adulterated ghee manufactured at Hosahundi. He said that cases will be booked against people who are trying to malign the Mahalakshmi brand and complaints would be filed at cyber cell.

“All our business including raw material purchase is fully transparent and our motto is to provide quality products to the customers. Ghee is the main ingredient of all the sweets and we purchase them from authorised dealers. We have a fool-proof system of checking adulterated products,” he clarified.