UP: Yogi Govt Issues Ultimatum To Stores - Remove Halal-Certified Goods From Shelves Within 15 Days

The Uttar Pradesh government has issued a 15-day ultimatum to outlet chains, retailers, and department stores to remove halal-certified food items from their shelves.

Additionally, 92 state-based manufacturers, previously receiving halal certification from non-certified organisations, have been directed to either recall their products within Uttar Pradesh or repackage them.

On 18 November, the state imposed a ban on the production, storage, distribution, and sale of halal-certified food products.

Subsequently, approximately 500 establishments across various districts and 97 locations in the state were investigated to identify halal-certified products, leading to the seizure of around 2,500 kg of such products.

The government has escalated its response by transferring the case against four firms, accused of irregularities in halal certification, to the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh police.

The FIR (First Information Report) includes charges under Sections 120B, 384, 420, 467, 468, 471, 153A, and 298 of the Indian Penal Code.

The complaint, filed by a Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) office-bearer, alleges that certain companies falsely certified products as halal to boost sales among a specific community for monetary gain, constituting forgery and cheating.