Police arrest three more suspects in Manmul powder case
Mandya police identified the newly arrested suspects as Anas, who is from Kerala, Vijesh of Thubinakere in Mandya taluk, and Arpit of Maddur. The arrests follow the detention and judicial remand of former Manmul chairman U.C. Shivakumar, along with cooperative officials and warehouse employees. Police have linked the investigation to the unauthorised removal of more than 110 metric tons of dairy solids, estimated in the source report at between ₹2.8 crore and ₹3 crore.
Investigators allege that Vijesh and Anas ran a commercial bakery-products unit at Thubinakere near Mandya. They are alleged to have been brought into the procurement network by Pradeep Kumar Jadhav, whom police describe as the prime accused. According to the investigation, Jadhav offered them skimmed milk powder at prices below wholesale levels, and the bakery bought several metric tons through transactions that were not recorded in official accounts.
Police suspect that powder intended for authorised institutional tender recipients and state nutrition programmes was removed from Manmul’s storage facilities at Gejjalegere and sold to private commercial customers. Investigators also allege that lower-quality powder and adulterants were obtained from outside suppliers and repackaged in official bags to conceal shortages during stock checks.
The reported discrepancy has been put at roughly 57 to 110 metric tons in different stages of the investigation. Food Safety and Drug Administration officials found irregularities during surprise inspections in June 2026. A criminal complaint was subsequently filed at Maddur police station on August 30.
Two Manmul officials were initially suspended after the discovery of the 57-tonne shortfall. Police are examining the roles of personnel responsible for stock audits, quality checks and tender dispatches, and are conducting financial reviews to establish the quantity of missing material and the union’s losses. The investigation has also recorded that suspect Niresh Kumar NVK died in early September. Ramakrishna T, Manmul’s deputy manager for quality assurance, had previously been listed as absconding.
Manmul is a constituent union of the Karnataka Milk Federation. The cooperative converts surplus milk into skimmed milk powder and sells it through institutional channels. The case concerns products held in the cooperative’s warehouses and their alleged movement into private food manufacturing operations.
