Maharashtra food regulator names Reliance and Blinkit officials in expired-goods case

what happened

India's Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has added officials from Reliance Group entities and from Eternal's Blinkit and Hyperpure units to an inquiry into expired groceries that allegedly returned to the food supply, according to case files Reuters reviewed. The list includes Blinkit's chief executive, Albinder Dhindsa.

Investigators visited warehouses run by Reliance Retail, Reliance Consumer and Zomato Hyperpure and found no verifiable proof that disposal contractors had actually destroyed the stock. On Thursday, licences of five establishments were suspended: three belonging to Reliance and two to Eternal. Reliance and Blinkit had not yet responded to Reuters' request for comment.

why it matters

For Reliance and Eternal, the case adds regulatory and reputational pressure on fast-growing retail and quick-commerce businesses in India, the world's most populous country. Investors may watch whether the licence suspensions and the police complaint affect operations and revenue. The food safety crackdown has already hit restaurant chains, and enforcement is visibly tightening.

market impact

Reliance and Eternal shares: operational and reputational risk for their retail and quick-commerce units

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instruments