A Delhi court has imposed a fine of Rs 2.4 crore on National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) for manufacturing Dhara mustard oil which caused epidemic dropsy leaving over 50 people dead and 3,000 people ill in the year 1998, reports DNA.
The court imposed the fine in 12 cases with a fine of Rs 20 lakh each in individual cases. The issue had rocked the Lok Sabha in 2000.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakh on Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd which was assigned for distributing the product.
“It has been proved that the accused 6 (NDDB) had manufactured/sold and accused no 4 (M/s. Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd) had distributed an adulterated food in violation of sections 2(ia)(a) and (m) of Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) Act and have committed offence punishable under section 7/16(1)(a) of the PFA Act. The nominees of the respective companies would be liable under section 17 of the Act,” the court said.