J&K: Prominent Srinagar departmental store booked for selling adulterated baby food leading to deterioration of infant's health

The complainant said that the 'Aptamil' Stage I he bought from the store on June 8 led to deterioration of the health of the one-month-old baby.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): A prominent departmental store in uptown Srinagar has been booked by the police after the health of a baby deteriorated after consuming adulterated infant formula bought from the store, police said on Wednesday. “Case registered against 7/11 department store, Sanatnagar for selling sub standard / adulterated milk for baby leading to deterioration of the health of baby. FIR no 48/23 under sections 273,274,275,276,420 of IPC registered in Sadar PS & investigation has started,” a Srinagar Police spokesman said.

Pertinently, Section 273 relates to Sale of noxious food or drink, 274 (Adulteration of drugs), 275 (Sale of adulterated drugs), 276 (Sale of drug as a different drug or preparation), and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property). A senior police officer said that investigation into the incident is going on. He further said that the departmental store has not been sealed for now.

The case was filed following the complaint by a man alleging that the infant formula 'Aptamil' Stage I he bought from the store on June 8 led to deterioration of the health of the one-month-old baby. “When we tried calling the mentioned customer care number on the box, it came to my notice that the number and importer slip is fake,” the complainant said.

He further said that he raised the same issue with the owner of the departmental store, who, he said, is not aware about the supplier of his products and denying it”. The complainant said that the owner offered him replacement for the product in order to hush up the case. “How can be they so irresponsible while selling the baby products and didn't even know the authenticity?” he asked.