Bengaluru: Vendor arrested for adulterating pani puri; was using rotten potatoes; undrinkable water

In a recent incident in West Bengaluru, a pani puri vendor was arrested for allegedly using unhygienic ingredients in his food. Pavan Kumar, who has been operating near Navarang Theatre for three years, was taken into custody following a complaint by Keshav, a vigilant autorickshaw driver from the area. Kumar was later released on bail with a warning, as per news reports.

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The incident unfolded when Keshav and his friend Vijay observed Kumar using unsanitary methods and poor-quality ingredients for his popular street snack. They discovered that he was using rotten onions and potatoes for the filling and drawing water from a borewell tank, which he claimed was only for washing dishes. However, after further questioning, Kumar admitted he was using the borewell water to prepare the pani (flavored water) for the pani puris.

The autorickshaw driver and his friend also noticed unwashed coriander leaves on the pushcart, adding to their concerns about the vendor’s hygiene practices. Disturbed by the vendor’s disregard for health standards, Keshav filed a complaint, and the Basaveshwara Nagar police subsequently registered a case against Kumar under sections 271 and 272 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Keshav has since expressed a commitment to identifying and reporting similar cases to ensure public health standards are upheld, reflecting his dedication to community welfare.