14-07-2025
Karnataka HC quashes criminal proceedings against HUL CEO Rohit Jawa
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The Karnataka High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings against Hindustan Unilever Limited HUL ) managing director & CEO Rohit Jawa in a case of food contamination under the Food Safety and Standards Act Judge JM Khazi, by a July 3 order, however, has allowed liberty to the food safety officer at the Bengaluru civic body BBMP to file a fresh complaint against the HUL CEO Jawa and arraign his company as an additional accused.A food safety officer had collected samples of Horlicks biscuits from a supermarket in Hebbal and filed a criminal case naming the HUL CEO saying the biscuit sample was found to be unsafe for human consumption as it contained pesticide Chlorpyrifos beyond the specified trial court had in June 2023 taken cognizance and issued summons to Jawa. The Judge expressed surprise that the authorities sought to proceed against individuals, and not the moved the high court challenging the criminal proceedings imitated against him at the trial court by taking cognizance for the offences punishable under the food safety act. The Judge held that in the absence of the company, the managing director cannot be proceeded against.