Authorities in Surat have seized a large quantity of fake paneer along with other materials from a godown in the city.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the action was carried out by the Special Operation Group (SOG) of the police along with officials from the Food Safety Department of the Surat Municipal Corporation.
The officials recovered 1,401 kilograms of analogue paneer and other related materials valued at about Rs. 28.44 lakh during the raid conducted on Thursday.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India on its official ‘X' account shared a video of the raid.
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In a major crackdown on food adulteration, the Surat Food Safety Team, conducted a decisive raid at a dairy establishment in Surat.
— FSSAI (@fssaiindia) March 5, 2026
A total of 1401 kg of paneer was seized during the drive.#FSSAIAction #FSSAIinStates pic.twitter.com/7aKU8GMFt0
Raid Carried Out After Tip-Off
The operation was reportedly conducted after the police received specific information about illegal activities at a location in Bhidbhanjan Society in the Pandesara area of Surat.
Acting on the information, the SOG team along with officials from the Food Safety Department of the Surat Municipal Corporation raided the premises. During the inspection, they found a large stock of ready-to-eat and partially processed paneer that was not branded.
The godown was reportedly being operated by Maheshkumar Sharma, a native of Rajasthan who currently lives in the Althan area of Surat.
Officials cited by the newspaper said the paneer found during the raid was suspected to be fake. After obtaining approval from the Food Safety Department, the stock was examined and confirmed to be analogue paneer.
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Analogue paneer is a substitute product made using ingredients other than pure milk, often produced at lower cost.
According to SOG sources, the officials found 1,401 kilograms of fake paneer stored inside a freezer at the godown.
Apart from the paneer, machinery and weighing scales valued at around Rs. 25 lakh were also recovered from the premises. The officials also seized plastic bags used for packing loose cheese, stickers of non-branded analogue paneer and a large quantity of acetic acid and palm oil.
These items were allegedly being used in the manufacturing and packaging process.
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Sources cited by The Indian Express said the accused was selling the paneer to different dairies at a rate of Rs. 220 per kilogram.
During questioning, the accused reportedly admitted that the unit had been producing around 400 kilograms of analogue paneer every day. Officials also stated that the illegal business had allegedly been running for the past two years.
Samples of the seized material have been collected from the facility and sent for examination at a laboratory approved by the Surat Municipal Corporation.
Speaking about the operation, Surat SOG Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdeepsingh Nakum told IE that, “the accused was supplying analogue paneer to Dharmaraj Dairy, Radha Krishna Dairy, Om Sai Dairy and Rajkamal Dairy. It was manufactured using a mixture of palm oil, milk powder, acetic acid and other ingredients. The accused has been running this business for the last two years, playing with the health of citizens. We have sent the samples for laboratory test, and after getting the report, we will register a case against the owner, Mahesh Sharma.”
Officials said further action in the case will depend on the results of the laboratory tests conducted on the collected samples.
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