The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is facing a fresh storm—not over adulterated food, but over an FIR filed against activists who alleged irregularities in the recruitment of its top officials. The move has sparked massive backlash, with critics questioning the regulator’s priorities as videos of fake paneer manufacturing go viral.
An FIR was filed against five X (Twitter) handles on March 24, 2026, at New Delhi’s IP Estate Police Station after the activists cited an internal FSSAI document to allege that five of six appointees provided inaccurate details related to work experience and salary while joining.
The FIR and the Activists
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| FIR Date | March 24, 2026 |
| Police Station | IP Estate, New Delhi |
| Handles Named | @khurpenchh, @YTKDIndia, @gemsofbabus_, @IamTheStory_, @NalinisKitchen |
| Complainant | FSSAI official (clarity on whether FSSAI sought complaint is unclear) |
| Allegation Against Activists | Circulating “misleading content” and “confidential internal documents” |
The FIR was based on a complaint from an FSSAI official, but there is no clarity on whether the national food safety authority had sought such a complaint.
The Recruitment Allegations
According to activists, an internal committee report from December 2024 found irregularities in the appointments of five officials:
| Official | Position |
|---|---|
| Kavitha Ramasamy | Joint Director |
| Bharat Pachiya | Deputy Director |
| Vaidehi Sanjay Kalzunkar | Deputy Director |
| Sweety Behera | Director |
| Saurav Duggal | Assistant Manager |
The activists claimed the report found these officials had provided:
- Fabricated experience letters
- Incorrect CTC details
- In some cases, candidates who did not even meet the prescribed selection criteria
Lokendra Kumar (Joint Director) was also probed and given a clean chit.
Activists’ Response
| Activist | Response |
|---|---|
| Nalini Unagar (@NalinisKitchen) | Took down posts; said “I cannot handle this level of stress anymore” |
| GemsofBabus | “So, Delhi Police has filed an FIR against me for exposing irregularities in FSSAI. Nice.” |
| Khurpench | Questioned if a criminal complaint was the best response; claimed possession of further documents pointing to “further irregularities and possible misconduct” |
Khurpench said: “Should the focus not be on verifying the allegations against the accused and taking appropriate action, rather than questioning the channel through which the information surfaced?”
The Fake Paneer Context
The outrage over the FIR comes amid viral videos of a synthetic paneer manufacturing unit in Surat. The unit was reportedly using:
- Palmolein oil
- Milk solids
- Industrial acids
to manufacture 400 kg of adulterated paneer every day for at least two years.
Backlash from Public Figures
| Figure | Statement |
|---|---|
| Vir Sanghvi (Journalist) | “There is something seriously wrong if a body charged with regulating food goes to the police to file FIRs against those who question its performance. What is the FSSAI really regulating? Food? Or people who question it?” |
| Atul Kasbekar (Photographer) | “It’s incredible, really just what junk gets passed as edible. How can anybody in charge be that useless or compromised?” |
| Shesh Paul Vaid (Former DGP, J&K) | “FSSAI is defunct in India. Someone in GOI needs to look into its working.” |
| Nikhil Mehra (Lawyer) | “I love how savagely the FSSAI FIR is backfiring.” |
Investigation Status
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| April 1 Action | Delhi Police wrote to Twitter Inc for information regarding the handles |
| Police Statement | Case pertains to allegations by “victim” that posts were published with “malicious intent to defame her” |
| FSSAI Response | India Today Digital has written to FSSAI Chairperson; response awaited |
The Larger Issue
The FSSAI has remained more of a paper tiger despite substandard and adulterated food products being sold across the country. The authority depends on state machineries and bodies to carry out its supervision and raids, making top-level appointments critical.
In November 2025, several members of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee raised serious concerns over the unchecked sale of adulterated goods, particularly sweets, during festivals.
