3 hrs ago
Navi Mumbai Police Arrest Man in Banana Chemical-Ripening Case
A video showed bananas allegedly being dipped in chemicals to make them ripen.
After the video appeared on social media, food safety officials inspected a fruit-market stall in Navi Mumbai.
They seized 1,384 kilograms of bananas.
Police say four people and a company may have been involved in the alleged activity.
One man, Ravindrakumar Chandradev Gautam, was arrested.
Police allege two others helped him by providing the stall.
They also allege that a company in Bengaluru made and supplied the chemical.
The investigation is continuing.
Police registered a case against four people over alleged use of prohibited chemicals to ripen bananas at an APMC market stall.
The FDA raided stall No. N-191 on October 5 after a citizen-recorded video circulated on social media.
Officials seized 1,384 kg of bananas across Sundari, Elaichi and Khatta-Mitha varieties.
Police identified Ravindrakumar Chandradev Gautam as the alleged main accused and said he had been arrested.
Investigators allege two people provided the stall and that Bengaluru-based Sai Chemicals Industries supplied the prohibited chemical.
- Who
- Police named Ravindrakumar Chandradev Gautam as the alleged main accused and registered a case against him, two other people and Sai Chemicals Industries.
- What
- The FDA seized 1,384 kg of bananas during a raid into alleged use of prohibited chemicals for artificial ripening.
- Where
- Stall No. N-191 in the APMC fruit market, Navi Mumbai.
- When
- The raid took place on October 5; the report is dated October 7, 2026.
- Why
- The raid followed a citizen-recorded video that allegedly showed bananas being dipped in chemicals.
Key facts
- Bananas seized
- 1,384 kg
- Raid date
- October 5, 2026
- Market stall
- Stall No. N-191, APMC fruit market
- Varieties seized
- 188 kg Sundari, 498 kg Elaichi and 698 kg Khatta-Mitha
- People and company named
- Four: Ravindrakumar Chandradev Gautam, Mohammad Umar Mohammad Ikhlas, Mohammad Nazir Hussain and Sai Chemicals Industries
- Arrest
- Gautam was arrested; further investigation is underway.
- Laws cited
- Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Sources
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