Khandwa: On April 24, police in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, arrested a man identified as Anwar Qureshi for allegedly producing and selling counterfeit ghee. According to officials, the product was made using animal fat, bones, and skin at a makeshift unit operating from a narrow lane near Begum Park in the Imalipura area. The raid was carried out following repeated complaints about animals being slaughtered on the premises and their remains being processed for use in food-like products.
A joint team comprising the district administration, municipal corporation, veterinary department, and police conducted a raid at the premises. Officials suspect that Qureshi had been supplying the counterfeit ghee to the local market, including food outlets and restaurants.
During the raid, officials recovered sacks containing animal skin and bones, along with drums and containers filled with a fat-based substance. A substantial quantity of raw material, processed liquid, and a ghee-like product was seized from the site.
9 drums and 79 containers seized
Speaking to the media, City Magistrate Bajrang Bahadur said the team recovered 79 containers from the premises, each holding around 30 kg of suspected material. In addition, nine large drums with a capacity of 200 kg each were found filled with animal fat.
The veterinary department collected samples from the site and sent them for laboratory analysis. Officials said the substance found in the drums appeared to be animal fat on initial inspection, but its exact nature and intended use will be confirmed after the lab results.
What the FIR says
According to the FIR, the case was registered at the Moghat Road police station in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh, based on a complaint by the zone in charge of the Khandwa Municipal Corporation. It has been filed against Anwar Sheikh Bismillah Qureshi under Section 7 of the Madhya Pradesh Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act and Section 292 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
SHO Dharwal stated that he received a letter from the Khandwa Municipal Corporation, signed by zone-in-charge officers Zakir Ahmed and Bhuvan Shrimali, requesting the registration of an FIR in the case.
According to the complaint, a joint inspection was conducted at a location opposite Begum Park in Pardeshipura, Khandwa, involving the City Magistrate, City CP, Tehsildar, Deputy Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation, the SHO of Moghat Road police station, and other staff. The premises were found to belong to Sheikh Anwar Sheikh Bismillah Qureshi, where he was allegedly melting animal fat inside his residence.
The licence presented at the spot by Anwar, purportedly issued by the Khandwa Municipal Corporation, was found to be in another person’s name and had expired in 2023. Despite this, he was allegedly storing and trading animal remains, including fat, skin, horns, and other materials, in an unauthorised and illegal manner.
During the raid, officials recovered 69 tins of fat, each with a capacity of 15 kg, nine drums of 200 litres containing an unidentified substance, around 600 pieces of leather, 35 sacks of horns believed to be from buffaloes or similar animals, and six sacks of tubular animal parts.
Khandwa CSP Abhiram Warange stated that the premises owner, Qureshi, was detained for questioning. Police are trying to determine how long the operation had been running and whether others were involved.
According to media reports, residents had raised repeated complaints about suspicious activities at the site. However, no action was taken until the recent raid. Locals alleged that animals were brought to the premises, slaughtered, and their fat, bones, and skin processed on-site.
