Bengaluru: Pani Puri Vendor Caught with Expired Potatoes and Unsafe Water
Bengaluru: Pani Puri Vendor Caught with Expired Potatoes and Unsafe Water
Instances of unsanitary street food preparation continue to emerge periodically. Recently, a street food vendor in western Bengaluru was caught after two local residents discovered him preparing and selling unhygienic pani puri using spoiled ingredients and unsafe water.
The residents identified a vendor who was utilizing expired ingredients for his pani puri. Following this revelation, the vendor was arrested, later released on bail, and given a warning by the authorities.
This incident occurred near the Navarang Theatre, where Pavan Kumar, who had operated his cart for three years, was apprehended by the two individuals after they observed suspicious behavior, as reported by The Times of India.
The sequence of events leading to his arrest was initiated by the vigilant actions of an auto driver and his companion.
According to a complaint filed by autorickshaw driver Keshav, he noticed Kumar extracting water from a borewell tank on September 29. When Keshav questioned him about it, Kumar stated that he planned to use the water for washing plates.
Keshav, who had previously witnessed Kumar selling pani puri, followed him to the vendor’s pushcart along with his friend Vijay Kumar.
Keshav, suspicious of the vendor’s behavior, followed him to his pushcart alongside his friend Vijay Kumar. Upon closer inspection, they found that Kumar was using contaminated borewell water to prepare the spiced water (pani) for the popular snack, as reported.
But that’s not all. The potatoes meant for stuffing the puris were spoiled, with about 40 rotten tubers clearly visible in a plastic bag, and the onions were also decaying. Additionally, Kumar had included unwashed coriander leaves in the pani, further compromising the food’s safety, according to the publication.
It was a shocking revelation for Keshav to find a local pani puri vendor serving unhealthy food to customers. After he filed a complaint, the Basaveshwara Nagar police opened a case under sections 271 and 272 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Now, Keshav is resolute in his mission to seek out similar street food vendors, conducting thorough inspections and reporting any issues to the police for necessary action. His dedication to enhancing community health is truly commendable.
