A court in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, has imposed monetary penalties on Patanjali Ayurved Ltd and two associated parties after a batch of the company’s cow ghee failed to meet prescribed quality standards during official testing. The action stems from a case initiated in 2020 following routine sampling by food safety officials.

Penalty Imposed by ADM Court

The adjudicating officer/Additional District Magistrate (ADM) court in Pithoragarh has ordered Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, headquartered in Ahmadnagar, to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh for allegedly selling substandard cow ghee.

Distributor Brahma Agencies has been fined Rs 25,000, while retailer Karan General Store has been penalised Rs 15,000.

The case dates back to 20 October 2020, when a food safety officer collected a sample of Patanjali cow ghee from a store in Kashani, Pithoragarh. The purchase bill linked the product to Brahma Agencies on Dharchula Road and Patanjali Ayurved Ltd.

Lab Reports Confirmed Substandard Quality

According to RK Sharma, Assistant Commissioner of the Food Security and Drug Administration, the sample was initially tested at the state food and drug laboratory in Rudrapur, where it was declared substandard. Patanjali disputed the findings and sought testing at a central laboratory, depositing Rs 5,000 for the procedure.

The sample was subsequently sent to the central food testing agency in Ghaziabad, whose November 2021 report also confirmed that the product did not meet quality standards.

Case Under the Food Safety Act

On reviewing both reports, authorities filed a case in February 2022 under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The company was notified, and the matter proceeded through a series of hearings.

On November 27, the ADM court upheld the findings and issued the financial penalties, directing strict adherence to food safety norms.

Patanjali Disputes Order, Plans Appeal

A Patanjali spokesperson has rejected the court’s conclusions, describing the order as “defective and illegal.” The company has stated that it is in the process of filing an appeal before the food safety tribunal, keeping the matter active within the regulatory framework.