The events in Rajamahendravaram in Andhra Pradesh involving the mass poisoning of consumers by milk contaminated with ethylene glycol sound a regulatory alarm. The police have invoked Sections 103 (punishment for murder) and 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the BNS. Milk is a staple in Indian households and contamination by an industrial compound already infamous in India for its lethality carries the potential to trigger a crisis of confidence in local, unbranded milk supplies. This could push people towards pasteurised milk from regulated cooperatives such as Amul or Vijaya, which seems desirable, but a large share of milk is also distributed in India through small vendors. The risk of being detected becomes negligible and even the harshest criminal charges cannot amount to a meaningful preventive measure.

Source: The Hindu March 10, 2026 03:16 UTC