Meerut Food Department Officials Accused of Eating, Taking Sweets and Accepting Bribe; CCTV Footage Surfaces

In Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, a scandal has shaken the Food Safety Department, exposing alleged corruption and misuse of authority. Officials from the Food Safety Department were caught on CCTV at a popular sweet shop, Hukum Chand Petha Wale at Budhana Gate, indulging in sweets and then getting five boxes packed to take home. The shopkeeper and traders have accused these officials of accepting a bribe of ₹5,000 in exchange for leniency during inspection.

The incident occurred during routine intensified inspections by the Food Safety Department ahead of the festival season to crack down on adulterated and substandard sweets. While conducting the investigation at the petha shop, the officials allegedly first tasted the sweets, spoke with the shop owner, and later accepted multiple boxes of sweets to their vehicle, as recorded by the shop’s CCTV.

Deepak Kumar, a senior Food Safety Department officer, acknowledged the allegations and said an investigation team has been formed to thoroughly probe the matter. Although he mentioned that no CCTV footage was brought to his notice yet, the accusations have created uproar in the local community.

The incident casts a shadow on the UP government's zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and food adulteration. The department has assured that strict action will be taken based on the investigation’s findings to uphold food safety standards and maintain public trust.

This episode highlights ongoing challenges in curbing corruption within official departments, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability to protect consumer interests, especially during festive times when food safety is paramount.