Ahmedabad: With the onset of summer and rising demand for cold beverages, a fake drink manufacturing unit producing duplicate pouches of Lajwab Mango Juicy Ice Dolly was busted in the Vatva area of the city. Police seized more than 15,000 pouches of the fake drink along with machinery and arrested one accused in connection with the case.

The raid was carried out after Sirajbhai Advani, a resident of Palanpur and owner of the Lajwab brand of cold drinks, received complaints about poor-quality products being sold in his company’s name. Upon inquiry, he found that duplicate mango drink pouches were being manufactured and sold in Vatva using his brand name. He informed Vatva police, following which a raid was conducted at a godown located in a lane near Navapura Maidan.

During the search, police found a small factory where fake Mango Juicy pouches were being produced. Officials seized 15,450 pouches, filling machines worth about Rs 1.80 lakh, and other materials, taking the total value of the seized goods to around Rs 2.16 lakh. The factory operator, identified as Mumtaz Ahmed Ansari, was arrested from the spot.

Police investigation revealed that the accused had been running the illegal unit for nearly two years, manufacturing small and large pouches under the name of Lajwab and selling them in the market as original products.

ACP N. K. Vyas said that the Food Safety Department and FSL have been informed, and samples of the seized drink have been sent for testing to check whether it is safe for consumption. A case of copyright violation and cheating has been registered at Vatva police station, and further action will be taken based on the laboratory report.

Police said strict action will be taken if the product is found unsafe for public consumption. DeshGujarat