New Delhi: The Supreme Court today observed that “Only in India we are
liberal with the health concerns,” as it refused to entertain pre-arrest bail
pleas of two Madhya Pradesh-based businessmen who are accused in a food
adulteration case.
A
vacation bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and MR Shah was hearing the
anticipatory bail applications of Prawar Goyal and Vineet Goyal of Neemuch
district in Madhya Pradesh.
Hearing
appeals against dismissal of their pre-arrest bail pleas by the Madhya Pradesh
High Court at Indore, the bench was told by lawyer Puneet Jain that penal
provisions relating to offence of food adulteration are bailable ones and
hence, they deserved anticipatory bail.
“Only
in India we are liberal with health concerns,” Justice Shah said, adding, “Mr
Jain, answer this. Will you eat this adulterated wheat”.
As
the bench was disinclined to consider the anticipatory bail plea, the lawyer
decided to withdraw the same.
“On
the prayer of Christi Jain, the Special Leave Petition is dismissed as
withdrawn,” the bench noted in its order on Tuesday.
Besides
the offence of cheating, the accused have been booked under section 272
(adulteration of food or drink intended for sale) and 273 (sale of noxious food
or drink) of the IPC which provides for maximum jail term of six months or
maximum fine of ? 1,000 or both.
As
per the FIR lodged by the Food Safety department, the businessmen have been
accused of using of “non-edible golden offset colour” for polishing wheat at
the premises of Darshil Agro Industries situated in Village Kanawati at
Neemuch.
In
the raid conducted on December 3, 2020, the Food Safety Officer of Neemuch
seized a 1,20,620 kg of “sub-standard and misbranded polished wheat” valued
at ? 27.74 lakh.
The high court had on March 12 rejected the pre-arrest bail
plea of the accused saying that the allegations were serious in nature.
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