The two-hour-long recording, reportedly from a board meeting held on July 12, captures a deep division within the company’s hierarchy. While Chairman Mansingh Patel advocated for the strict enforcement of the penalty to protect milk quality, a rival faction, allegedly backed by Vice Chairman Raju Pathak, pushed for the penalty to be waived. This public disagreement highlights a critical conflict in the cooperative’s governance and its approach to maintaining dairy supply chain integrity.

In the wake of the leak, Sumul Dairy’s Managing Director, Arun Purohit, has filed a formal complaint with the Surat Police Commissioner. He labeled the recording “illegal” and requested a thorough investigation to identify the individuals responsible for recording and circulating the audio on social media platforms. The incident has not only created an internal crisis but has also become a matter for law enforcement.

The Surat Crime Branch has since launched a probe into the matter, taking statements and planning to question individuals who received the leaked clips. The focus of the investigation extends to four specific directors whose remarks in the audio reportedly went viral, underscoring the serious legal and reputational risks associated with such internal disputes in a major agribusiness entity.