
A former university principal faces police action in Gujarat after a viral video alleged Amul products contained DDT-like pesticides and were “seven days old,” creating public fear and damaging the Indian cooperative’s reputation.
A serious legal dispute has erupted in the Indian dairy sector after a viral social media video prompted the registration of a police complaint against Dr. Hitesh Jani, a former principal of Jamnagar Ayurvedic University. The complaint was filed by Aakash Purohit, an assistant manager for quality assurance at Amulfed Dairy, a unit of the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the powerhouse behind the Amul brand. The action signals a robust defense by the cooperative against what it terms false and misleading claims aimed at their milk products.
The core of the legal complaint details several severe and widely disseminated claims made by Dr. Jani in the video. Specifically, the former principal alleged that 22 types of chemicals were being mixed into the milk, that DDT-like pesticides were being added, and, critically, that the milk being sold was seven days old. These allegations directly attack the freshness, safety, and integrity of Amul’s processing and supply chain, which is key to consumer trust.
The misinformation campaign extended beyond product safety to include accusations of fraudulent business practices and regulatory failure. The FIR alleged that Jani claimed Amul pouches contained less than 500ml, directly accusing the company of cheating consumers for profit. Furthermore, Jani allegedly stated that products certified by major Indian food safety standards (ISI and FSSAI) were unsafe, claiming that officials were taking no corrective action against the perceived system failures.
In his video, Jani also ventured into political commentary, alleging that the entire food system was “foreign-controlled” and stating he would “have to become an MLA to change the law.” This context is notable, as the article mentions Jani is a past state secretary of the BJP. The complainant argued that Jani’s statements, particularly given his professional status as a doctor, were designed to create fear and distrust among the public, with the clear intent of defaming the Amul brand and severely damaging the reputation of the cooperative federation.
Chandkheda police have initiated an investigation, registering the complaint under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for statements conducive to public mischief with the intent to cause fear or alarm. The legal action is a direct measure taken to seek redress against the alleged tarnishing of a reputable Indian cooperative’s image and the spreading of falsehoods that are likely to harm the essential public trust in the national dairy industry.
Source: Find the complete report on the controversial claims and legal response at The Times of India.
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