Mumbai: In a setback for Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, the Bombay High Court has refused to quash proceedings initiated against it by a magistrate’ court in Jalna district for selling adulterated beverages.
The Food and Drug Administration of Jalna district, in 2001, conducted inspection of the company’s product – ‘Canada Dry’, a sweetened carbonated beverage and found fibrous substance and cobwebs inside the sealed bottles.
It seized a stock of 321 bottles of 'Canada dry' with an expiry date of December 12, 2001 on July 27, 2001. After testing, a complaint was lodged against the company before the magistrate’s court in Jalna against the company for contravention of the provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act.
The magistrate issued notice to the company in March 2010. The company challenged this before the HC and sought quashing of the complaint and also the notice contending that there was delay in lodging of the complaint.
Justice YG Khobragade, on December 11, however, said the company has not made out any ground for the proceedings to be quashed. After the pronouncement of the order, Hindustan Coca-Cola sought extension of an earlier order granting interim stay on criminal proceedings for another eight weeks.
However, the bench refused to extend the same, thereby allowing criminal proceedings that have been stalled for around fourteen years to continue.
