Interestingly, the sudden raid conducted by the DoC, which has intensified market inspection in recent days, also caught staff of a printing firm red handed while trying to relabel the date-expired drink bottles with new expiry date.[break]
Following such revelation, the team arrested proprietors of GSM Trade Link and GD International - the distributor of the drink and Image Digital Screen Printers - a printing firm in Bagbazar.
"The drinks were found at Image Digital Screen Printers at Bagbazar. We were shocked to know that the printing firm was printing labels (for the energy drink) with new expiry dates," said Sarad Nath Uprety, market inspection officer at DoC.
The drinks found at the press did not have the name of the distributor as well as manufacturing and expiry dates. "Hence, we were certain that the drinks were expired," said a member of the inspection team.
The bottles also lacked details of the ingredients used, something which is mandatory by the law.
The department had launched the raid based on the tip off of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) Monday.
Those arrested were Manish Agrawal of GSM Tradelink and GD International and Gadul Lama, proprietor of Image Digital Screen Printers.
"The District Administration Office, Kathmandu will take actions against them on charges of black marketeering and flouting Consumers´ Rights Protection Act," Upreti told Republica.
The inspection team has also sealed the warehouse of GSM Trade Link and GD International at Tahachal, where a large number of energy drink bottles were stored.
The DoC on Monday had also carried out inspection of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) dealers in Gongabu and seized 13 underweight LPG cylinders. The team had found Ratna Gas Depot, Samakhusi of selling 13 cylinders of Lumbini Gas that contained 500 to 900 grams less gas than the stipulated 14.2 kg.
Similarly, Devkota Suppliers at Samakhusi was also found selling nine cylinders of Lumbini Gas which weighed 1-1.2 kg less than the stipulated weight.
“We have asked Arjun Devkota of Devkota Suppliers, who is also the president of Samakhusi Gas Traders Association, and proprietor of Ratna Gas Depot to appear at the department for clarification,” said Narayan Prasad Bidari, director general of DoC.
Meanwhile, Suresh Prajapati, manager of Lumbini Gas, said the company has not circulated under-weight cylinder in the market. “We always encourage the customers to verify weight before buying gas. If there is any fault on our side, we readily acknowledge it and make efforts not to repeat it,” said Prajapati.
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