fake saffron

For sale and illegal production of fake saffron police today booked four persons under PSA. Police has launched hunt to arrest another accused who is at large.
Police said that last month the police received information from the locals of Pampore about the preparation of replica of Saffron and its other ingredients in and around the town Pampore by some unscrupulous persons. These persons in nexus with some outside state dealers prepare and transport this saffron to various States of the country, besides its sale among innocent citizens.
On the tip off the names of two locals Ghulam Hassan Dar and Shabir Ahmad Dar resident of Befina Pampore surfaced and after obtaining proper permission from the competent court their houses were searched by Police and Saffron like coloured material along with raw material was recovered from their houses.
A case vide FIR number 07/2010 U/S 420, 272 RPC, 3/7 E. C Act, 16 Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was registered. About 11 Kilograms (Kg’s) of Saffron like material and 29 Kgs of raw material was recovered and both the persons were arrested.
With the help of Saffron Growers Association/ Falah-e-Behbood Committee Pampore numerous similar raids were conducted in the Pampore area which led to the recovery of 35Kgs of fake Saffron.
In another tip off from the locals’ two persons Mohd Ashraf Dar resident of Befina and Ghulam Nabi Wani resident of Namblabal Pampore were apprehended while carrying the fake Saffron like material in a Maruti Car bearing registration number JK13-8604 and again case vide FIR number 09/2010 U/S 420, 272 RPC, 3/7 E. C Act , 16 Prevention of Food Adulteration Act was registered and investigation taken up. The vehicle in-question was seized and the accused persons were arrested.
Police said during the investigation in both the cases, the names of some dealers surfaced and the process of raids for their arrest was intensified. Among other suspects one Ghulam Mohammad Khanday resident Namblabal Pampore was found to be the prime accused involved in this whole racket who is still at large and efforts are on to nab him.
Police Station Panthachowk has also seized a huge quantity of this duplicate Saffron and arrested some persons in this regard. Police Station Pampore and Police Station Panthachowk have seized fake Saffron, which could have been sold in crores of rupees outside State.
This replica of Saffron is reportedly being sent to other parts of the country, where it is commonly used for performing religious rites.
The material used for making fake Saffron is the tip of corn fiber (Tassale) and fiber of Marigold Flower, which is dyed by colouring agent used in Kashmir Cuisine. The material is afterwards dried in small pieces which takes the shape of Saffron. So far, four of the accused have been booked under PSA.