HYDERABAD: The State Food Laboratory’s in-charge Chief Public Analyst Narra Ravinda, who was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for issuing false testing certificates, has allegedly misused his powers in letting off several business establishment owners by providing false reports after the owners were booked in supplying contaminated and spurious food to customers.
Taking advantage of staff crunch in the State Food Laboratory, Ravindra allegedly colluded with GHMC’s food inspectors for indulging in illegal graft activities.
ACB officials, who are investigating the case, are understood to have collected information that Ravindra and other staff of State Food Laboratory were allegedly indulging in issuing incorrect testing certificate to several owners running water plants illegally by certifying that the water supplied by such owners is not contaminated in connection with a particular case registered by food inspectors.
The State Intelligence wing officials, who initially received Ravindra’s alleged illegal activities in State Food Laboratory in issuing false testing certificates, have kept close vigil on movements of the accused officer, have tipped off information to the ACB officials in sending the accused officers behind the bars.
The state law enforcement agencies have intensified raids on spurious products including food related material by registering criminal cases.
The ACB officials, who produced the accused before the court for judicial remand, are likely to file a petition seeking custody of the accused for questioning in connection with the case by verifying the details that were collected by the agency.