Six individuals sentenced to simple imprisonment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 26 2018:
Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West has handed simple imprisonment of one day to four individuals and three days to two other individuals, along with a fine of Rs 1,37, 000 in total, for an offense under Food Safety and Standard Act.
The Court order was passed on August 23 by Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal west.
The case was filed against the 6 individuals under five different cases by Nelson Thounaojam, Food Safety Officer, Imphal West, in connection with storage of food products deemed unsafe for consumption by people.
The accused individuals identified as Anil Kumar Gupta of Bihar (presently staying at Alu Gali, Thangal bazar), Dost Mahammad Ansari of Bihar (presently staying at Nagamapal Singjabung Leirak), Dinesh Jumar Gupta of Bihar (presently Staying at Alu Galli, Telipati and Thangal Keithel), Shaktinath Prasad of Bihar (presently staying at Majorkhul), Ramesh Kumar Agarwal of Rajeshthan (presently staying at transit camp, Minuthong) and Sagar Koirala of Senapati, were present before the Court with their respective counsels during the hearing on August 23.During the hearing, the counsels of the accused persons prayed for leniency claiming that all of them are one time offenders.
The counsels also submitted that the unsafe food items were stored not for sale but for return to the manufacturer as they were past their expiry dates.
After hearing the cases at length, the Court mentioned that the fact that the accused persons are one time offenders as well as that fact that the seized unsafe food items were stocked and stored, suggested the submission that the food items were meant to be returned to its producers could be true.
However, regarding the nature of the offence which is against public health the Court declined probation to the accused individuals and for offence under the Food Safety and Standard Act, four of the accused persons were remanded to simple imprisonment for one day each while the remaining two other accused were remanded for three days.
They were also fined a total of Rs 1,37,000.The accused individuals were further warned not to repeat the offence and the cases were disposed by the Court.