Investigators from the Central Crime Branch (CCB) have arrested a Mysuru-based couple believed to be at the core of a large and sophisticated fake Nandhini ghee manufacturing and distribution network operating across Karnataka and potentially beyond. The crackdown, which marks one of the most significant actions taken against food adulteration networks in recent years, has exposed an elaborate chain involving clandestine factories, high-tech packaging operations and a wide distribution web that targeted both retail and wholesale markets.

The arrested couple, identified as Shivakumar, 45, and his wife, Ramya, 40, are suspected to have played a central role in producing adulterated ghee and supplying it to distributors who then pushed the product into the market under the Nandhini brand—a well-known and trusted label associated with the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF). Their arrest is the latest development in an ongoing investigation that began after CCB officials raided a storage unit in Bengaluru’s Chamarajpet area on November 14. During that operation, officers seized 8,136 litres of counterfeit ghee packaged to appear identical to authentic Nandhini products. The raid also resulted in the arrests of four individuals: distributor Mahendra, his son Deepak, and another associate, Muniraju, all of whom were allegedly part of the distribution chain.

According to investigators, early findings strongly indicated that the Mysuru couple were the primary suppliers of the adulterated product, prompting CCB officials to track their activities and connections. The breakthrough came when officers linked the seized Chamarajpet consignment to shipments originating from Mysuru, allegedly handled by the couple. With this discovery, police expanded their inquiry to map the full production and distribution network.

A major revelation emerged when CCB teams followed leads to Tamil Nadu, where they uncovered a fully equipped and clandestine manufacturing unit engineered specifically for producing counterfeit ghee. CCB Deputy Commissioner of Police Sriharibabu confirmed that the unit operated with advanced machines capable of producing, refilling and labelling tins and pouches to resemble legitimate Nandhini products. This level of sophistication, he said, allowed the fake goods to move through the market largely undetected, raising serious concerns about the scale of consumption and potential harm to public health.

The machinery recovered from the Tamil Nadu facility included automated filling units, precision sealing equipment, and high-grade printers used to replicate Nandhini’s authorised branding, batch codes, and packaging designs. Officers noted that the counterfeiters had invested significantly in the machinery to ensure that the fake products could pass as genuine even under cursory inspection. The seized samples have since been sent to forensic laboratories to determine the nature and composition of the adulterants used. Authorities believe that the counterfeit ghee may contain low-grade oils and chemical agents that could pose health risks.

In addition to the arrests, police have frozen bank accounts linked to the Mysuru couple, amounting to approximately ₹60 lakh. “We have provisionally attached about ₹60 lakh from their accounts and will proceed with further legal measures,” DCP Sriharibabu said, adding that financial records indicated repeated transactions and deposits that seemed disproportionate to the couple’s declared income. Investigators suspect that the illicit profits generated through the sale of counterfeit ghee may be significantly higher, reflecting the widespread distribution of the product.

Records examined by the CCB also suggest that the couple had previously been implicated in a similar case in Mysuru, raising doubts about how long the network has been active and whether it had expanded its operations over time. This history has prompted officers to revisit older cases of food adulteration in the region to determine whether the same group or its associates had been involved.

With more evidence emerging, the investigation has broadened across multiple districts. Police have uncovered indications that fake ghee produced by this network was being sold at parlors, supermarkets, and smaller retail outlets, prompting concern that unsuspecting consumers may have been purchasing and using the adulterated product for a prolonged period. Authorities are now working to identify all retail points, transporters and intermediaries involved in distributing the counterfeit goods.

“The priority now is to map the entire supply chain and establish how widely these products were circulated,” DCP Sriharibabu said. “We are also examining whether any consignments were transported outside Karnataka, given the scale of the operations and the presence of a manufacturing setup in another state.” Investigators suspect that the network’s reach may extend to neighbouring states, particularly Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, where distribution routes often intersect.

As part of the crackdown, police are coordinating with food safety authorities, local enforcement units and inter-state crime wings to dismantle the larger network and ensure that no remaining counterfeit products are still circulating. They have also urged retailers to verify the authenticity of their stock and cooperate fully with the ongoing inquiry.

The case has raised broader concerns about vulnerabilities in the food supply chain, particularly in products like ghee that are commonly used in households. The use of advanced machinery to create near-perfect replicas of branded items underscores the need for tighter monitoring, improved packaging security measures and periodic checks at both manufacturing and retail levels.

For the Karnataka Milk Federation, whose Nandhini brand is widely trusted, the revelation of a counterfeit network represents both a reputational and public safety challenge. Industry experts have noted that counterfeit operations not only harm consumers but also erode trust in legitimate producers and disrupt the dairy economy, which supports thousands of farmers across the state.

As the investigation continues, authorities are preparing to file additional charges under food adulteration and fraud laws. They are also exploring whether provisions of the Karnataka Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, can be invoked to seek stringent penalties.

The arrests of Shivakumar and Ramya mark a significant step forward, but officers acknowledge that the probe is far from over. With multiple layers of the operation now coming to light—from the manufacturing hubs to distribution channels and retail infiltration—the CCB expects more arrests and seizures in the coming weeks. Their efforts, they say, aim not only to bring the perpetrators to justice but also to restore public confidence in food safety and protect consumers from dangerous counterfeit products.

The unravelling of this racket serves as a reminder of the critical need for vigilance in the food sector, consistent monitoring by authorities and greater awareness among consumers to identify and report suspicious products. For now, the CCB continues its meticulous work to dismantle all remaining links in what appears to be one of the state’s most extensive counterfeit food production networks.