Surat: In a first-of-its-kind action in the city, Surat police have registered a case against the owner of Surabhi Dairy after paneer sold by the dairy was found to be of substandard quality.

An FIR has been filed at Katodara Police Station following a joint raid by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) Food Safety Officers and police personnel, who acted on credible information regarding the sale of suspicious paneer in the city.

Based on a tip-off, officials visited Shop No. 434 in Surathia Compound, behind INS Hospital, Katodara, Surat. There, they found Shaileshbhai Chhaganbhai Patel, operator of Surabhi Dairy, storing 23 plastic cartons of suspicious cheese weighing 755.621 kg. The cheese, produced under the Surabhi Dairy label, was reportedly meant for distribution across various dairies in Surat.

During the raid, Food Safety Officer T.S. Patel collected samples of the cheese for laboratory testing and sealed the remaining stock. Further investigation led officers to Surabhi Dairy’s manufacturing unit at Plot Nos. 1, 2, 3, Lakshmi Industries, Sheikhpur Phatak, Sayan, Olpad. At the unit, Kaushikbhai Vallabhbhai Patel, the manager, was found in possession of additional adulterated products, including:

• 420 kg of Delight Ready Butter (₹58,800)

• 600 liters of suspicious milk (₹43,200)

• 90 liters of suspicious oil (₹13,500)

• 200 kg of suspicious cheese (₹4,800)

• 7 liters of acid used for cheese production (₹490)

The total value of items seized from both locations was ₹3,02,139.

Samples from the shop and the manufacturing unit were sent to the Public Health Laboratory, Surat, on November 10, 2025. The lab report confirmed that the paneer was substandard and adulterated.

Authorities have now filed an FIR against Shaileshbhai Chhaganbhai Patel and Kaushikbhai Vallabhbhai Patel, alleging that they conspired to manufacture low-quality paneer using adulterated ingredients with the intent to defraud customers and endanger public health.

The complaint cites Sections 274, 275, 318(4), 61(2), and 3(5) of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023. Shaileshbhai Patel has already been arrested, while Kaushikbhai Patel reportedly fled upon learning about the investigation. The probe is ongoing, with efforts underway to nab the absconding accused. DeshGujarat