In a startling revelation at a leading automobile firm situated in Pune’s Pimpri-Chinchwad area, a distressing incident has come to light where items such as condoms, stones, and tobacco were allegedly discovered in the samosas served at the company’s canteen. The incident, which occurred on March 27, has sparked widespread concern and raised questions about food safety standards.
According to reports, employees raised alarm bells after encountering unusual objects in their food, including traces of stones, gutkha, and even a condom. Subsequent investigations were initiated, leading to the identification of a businessman allegedly seeking revenge after his contract with the automobile company was terminated. The police have taken action, booking five individuals, including two workers from the subcontracting firm responsible for supplying the tainted samosas, and three partners associated with another firm allegedly involved in the adulteration scheme.
The police revealed that the adulteration plot was orchestrated by the aforementioned businessman and executed by the three partners, who planted the two workers to tarnish the reputation of the firm that had taken over the samosa contract. Catalyst Service Solutions Pvt. Ltd., the initial supplier of snacks to the company’s canteen, was replaced by Manohar Enterprise, prompting the retaliation.
During interrogation, the implicated workers confessed to stuffing condoms, gutkha, and stones into the samosas, corroborating the police’s findings. They admitted to being employees of SRA Enterprises and disclosed that they were instructed by the company’s partners to adulterate the food provided by Manohar Enterprises.
As a result of these revelations, a case has been registered under IPC Sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). This incident underscores the critical importance of stringent food safety measures and highlights the potential risks associated with outsourcing food services to subcontractors.
Regrettably, this incident is not an isolated one. Similar instances of unhygienic food being served in canteens at various establishments have been reported in the past. Earlier this year, in Uttar Pradesh, approximately 20 teachers were hospitalized after consuming worm-infested samosas from a local sweet shop. Likewise, in July 2023, a customer filed a complaint with the food safety department in Chandigarh after discovering a worm in a dosa served at a government hospital canteen.
