Dehradun – Selling adulterated food may promise quick profits, but the cost can be far heavier. A Dehradun district court has imposed a fine of one lakh rupees on a dairy operator, who is also a practicing lawyer, after he was found guilty of selling adulterated paneer.
The accused, Alisher Qureshi, admitted his guilt before the court. During the hearing, he stated that he now earns his livelihood through legal practice and cited his weak financial condition, requesting leniency in punishment. However, the court made it clear that public health cannot be compromised, irrespective of the profession of the offender.
While pronouncing the verdict, Fifth Additional Civil Judge Amit Kumar observed that giving the accused an opportunity to reform and live as a responsible citizen would be legally appropriate. Keeping this in mind, the court chose not to send him to jail but imposed a heavy financial penalty along with symbolic imprisonment.
The court imposed a fine of ₹80,000 for selling paneer that did not meet prescribed standards and an additional ₹20,000 for selling unsafe food. Along with this, the accused was awarded simple imprisonment till the rising of the court. If the fine is not deposited, he will have to undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
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The case dates back to an inspection conducted by the Food Safety Department at a dairy located in Ajabpur Khurd. Samples of paneer collected from the dairy were found to be adulterated and unsafe during laboratory testing, following which legal proceedings were initiated based on the department’s report.
