Adulterated spices: Unit workers say it was done at owner’s behest

Workers of the Naroda factory from where adulterated spices were seized have told the police that the owner made them mix other things with spices based on a proportion set by him. The police along with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) officials had raided Devi Masala Bhandar at Naroda on Friday. The unit produces chilli powder,turmeric and coriander powder. During the raid,the police found saw dust,colours,chemicals and synthetic oils among other things in the spices.

Inspector G H Gohil said: “We have interrogated the workers and they have told us that the owner used to ask them to adulterate the items. He got them other things to be mixed in the original products. They allege that they had a proportion set for making adulterated mixtures.”

The owner of the factory,Bhagwandas Karia,a native of Kadi Taluka,was questioned by police but he refused to confess to his crime.

The police further said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials have collected the samples of the spices from the factory. The FSL report is expected in four days. Karia will be booked if the report confirms the adulteration,said the police.