Mandya: Mandya district police on Sunday night arrested former Mandya Milk Union (Manmul) chairman UC Shivakumar, popularly known as Ummadahalli Shivappa, in connection with the alleged milk powder adulteration case.Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar five to six days ago and summoned him to the Maddur police station for questioning. He was later arrested. Shivakumar is associated with the Congress. His arrest comes amid demands from BJP and JD(S) that the state govt hand over the case to the CBI, with both parties questioning the impartiality of the Karnataka police investigation.So far, Mandya police have arrested eight people in connection with the alleged theft and adulteration of skimmed milk powder (SMP) at Manmul. The unrecovered shortage of 55.5 tonnes of milk powder is estimated to have caused a loss of Rs 2.8 crore to the union.Mandya SP VJ Shobharani told reporters on Monday that, based on a complaint filed on Aug 30 by N Ashwini, assistant manager, quality assurance department, Manmul, Maddur police registered a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The investigation uncovered an organised operation in which SMP bags were allegedly loaded illegally onto transport vehicles from the Manmul production unit and transported to a warehouse in the Gejjalagere Industrial Area. The stolen milk powder was then allegedly sold to private buyers, with the proceeds distributed among the accused, she said.The arrested include Pradeep Kumar Jadhav, former purchase officer; Shruti MC, system operator; Ravi, maintenance worker; Srinivasa RS, loading worker; Srinivasamurthy KN, former head of the SMP unit; Suresh VK, a businessman from Kerala; UC Shivakumar, Manmul director; and Suresh UG, a contractor.Another accused, Niresh Kumar NVK, died on Sept 7. Ramakrishna T, deputy manager and head of the quality assurance section, is absconding, Shobharani said.
