The sale and production of analogue paneer has emerged as a significant food-safety concern in Indore after the Madhya Pradesh authorities moved against its sale. Food department inspections have revealed a network of manufacturing and supply units operating in and around the city.

Unlike conventional paneer made primarily from milk, analogue paneer can contain ingredients such as vegetable fat, starch and milk solids. The product was allegedly being supplied to hotels, roadside eateries and small food outlets as ordinary paneer.

The price difference has been one of the major reasons behind its use. While milk-based paneer in Indore is selling for around ₹400 per kg, analogue paneer has been available at approximately ₹280 per kg.

Large Units in Four Areas

Food department officials have identified manufacturing activity in areas including Palda, Betma, Mhow and Khudail, along with surrounding locations.

Suppliers linked to these units are believed to have distributed the product to different parts of Indore. Officials are also examining whether analogue paneer was being transported into the city from neighbouring districts.

The department is now checking locations suspected of being involved in production and storage while tracing the supply chain from manufacturers to retailers and food establishments.

Hotels and Food Stalls Among Buyers

The low cost of analogue paneer has reportedly made it attractive to hotels, dhabas and smaller restaurants.

Its use has also been reported at momos, Chinese-food and other small food stalls, where paneer-based dishes are commonly prepared.

Customers ordering dishes such as paneer curry, chilli paneer, momos or other preparations may not always know whether traditional milk-based paneer or an analogue product has been used.

This has raised concerns about transparency in the food supply chain, particularly when a substitute product is presented or used as conventional paneer.

How Analogue Paneer Differs

Nutrition expert Nidhi Agrawal said analogue paneer differs from traditional paneer made from milk.

Depending on the formulation, manufacturers may use vegetable fat, starch, milk solids and other ingredients, either alongside dairy ingredients or as substitutes for some components used in conventional paneer.

The composition of a particular product can vary, making proper labelling and regulatory compliance important for consumers and food businesses.

1,816 Kg Seized in Indore

The Food Department's recent action has provided an indication of the scale of the trade.

On Wednesday, officials inspected Umapati Industries in Palda, where low-fat paneer was reportedly being manufactured and packed.

During the inspection, the department seized 1,816 kg of analogue paneer and mawa from the facility.

Officials also ordered the manufacturing unit to be closed with immediate effect.

Supply Chain Under Investigation

Following the seizure, the Food Department is investigating the entire supply chain, including manufacturing units, storage facilities, suppliers and food outlets.

Officials are also examining establishments where the product may have been used in food preparation.

The investigation is expected to focus on how the product was being manufactured, whether it was properly labelled, where it was being distributed and whether businesses were selling or serving it as conventional paneer.

The action comes after authorities imposed restrictions on the sale of analogue paneer in Madhya Pradesh. Further inspections are likely as officials attempt to identify additional units and suppliers involved in the trade.

For consumers, the issue highlights the importance of knowing the composition and source of paneer being served, particularly in restaurants and small food outlets where the product is purchased through commercial supply chains.

The murder of a postal assistant in Indore has left behind more than a criminal investigation—it has shattered the lives of two young children who witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy. Authorities are continuing their search for the woman's husband, who is the prime suspect in the case, while relatives say the children remain deeply traumatised by the incident.

The victim, Urmila Saini, a Postal Assistant, was found with fatal injuries at her residence in Dak Kunj Colony on July 11. The case has drawn attention not only because of the alleged domestic dispute behind the crime but also due to its devastating impact on the couple's children.

Teen Daughter in Deep Shock

Family members said the couple's daughter, Preksha Saini, a Class 9 student, has been struggling to cope with the horrifying scene she encountered after returning home from school.

Known as a bright student, Preksha had also begun establishing herself as a young content creator on social media. She regularly produced motivational, promotional and spiritual videos and had recently created a video highlighting her mother's work in the Department of Posts. The video had been appreciated by postal employees and local residents for its creativity and presentation.

According to relatives, the teenager had hoped to build a future in digital content creation alongside her studies. Those aspirations have now been overshadowed by the emotional trauma following her mother's death.

Children Found Mother After School

According to family members, on the morning of the incident, the children's father allegedly visited their school and handed Preksha household keys, an ATM card, jewellery, scooter keys and other belongings. He reportedly asked the siblings to go to a relative's house after school, without disclosing the circumstances.

When the children later reached their home, they found the main door open and the television switched on at high volume. Inside, they discovered their mother lying in a pool of blood with serious injuries. Relatives said the children immediately alerted family members after the discovery.

Allegations of Domestic Discord

Preksha has reportedly told relatives that frequent disputes had taken place between her parents over the past several months. She alleged that her father often suspected her mother and regularly checked her mobile phone. According to her account, arguments over these issues had become common at home.

The teenager also claimed that she had previously witnessed altercations between her parents and that she herself had faced abusive behaviour while defending her mother. These claims are now part of the broader investigation and have not yet been independently established in court.

Investigation Continues

Police have registered a murder case and launched a search for the victim's husband, who remains absconding. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the school and surrounding areas to reconstruct his movements after he allegedly met the children earlier that day.

Officials are also analysing other evidence collected from the crime scene as part of the ongoing investigation. Police have not yet announced the suspect's whereabouts.

Children Receive Family Support

Following the incident, both children are staying with relatives. Family members say they continue to relive the traumatic experience and remain emotionally distressed.

Neighbours said they had never publicly noticed signs of serious conflict within the family, adding that the extent of the domestic tensions became apparent only after the incident came to light.

As the police investigation progresses, the case has once again highlighted the lasting emotional impact that incidents of domestic violence and family crime can have on children, whose lives are often permanently altered by such tragedies.

The Meghalaya government has approached the Supreme Court seeking cancellation of bail granted to Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused in the high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case from Indore. Raja's brother Vipin Raghuvanshi confirmed the development on Thursday, adding that a hearing could take place as early as Friday.

Sonam Raghuvanshi, along with accomplices, had allegedly murdered her husband Raja — an Indore-based transport businessman — during what was presented as a honeymoon trip to Shillong. Shillong police arrested all the accused in the case, but Sonam and some others were subsequently released on bail. A few accused remain in judicial custody.

The bail had drawn strong reaction from Raja's family, who have consistently demanded maximum punishment for those responsible for the killing. Earlier, police had moved the Meghalaya High Court seeking cancellation of Sonam's bail, but the application did not succeed there. The state government has now escalated the matter to the Supreme Court.

Vipin Raghuvanshi said the Meghalaya government shares the family's concern that an accused in a murder case of this nature should not remain out on bail for an extended period. "Meghalaya government also does not want a girl like Sonam to remain on bail for long," he said.

The case traces back to January 24, 2025, when Raja Raghuvanshi was killed in Shillong. The Indore family had been connected through a community matrimonial listing, leading to the marriage that preceded the alleged conspiracy and murder. The case drew widespread attention for its premeditated nature and the circumstances in which it unfolded.

The Supreme Court hearing, if it takes place Friday as expected, will determine whether Sonam's bail stands or is revoked pending trial.

Two Activa-borne assailants grabbed a cash-laden bag from agent Mukesh Agarwal in Pandhrinath area; police from three stations now coordinating the hunt

A brazen robbery unfolded in Indore's Pandhrinath locality late Thursday evening when two unidentified men on an Activa scooter snatched a bag containing approximately Rs 30 lakh from a collection agent and fled the scene. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, giving investigators crucial footage to work with.

The Robbery

The victim, Mukesh Agarwal, works as a collection agent for utensil traders operating in the Bartan Bazaar and Mohanpura areas of the city. Around 8:30 PM, he was on his way back after collecting payments from merchants in his regular circuit when the two assailants intercepted him. They first threatened him before physically snatching the bag from his hands and speeding away on their two-wheeler.

The cash in the bag represented collections made from multiple traders during the day's rounds, making the loss significant both for Agarwal and the business owners he works for.

CCTV Footage Aids Investigation

The robbery was clearly recorded on surveillance cameras installed in the area. The footage, according to police, shows both accused approaching the agent, confronting him, and then fleeing with the bag. Investigators have been scouring CCTV feeds from surrounding streets to trace the route taken by the assailants after the incident.

Agarwal reached Pandhrinath police station at around 9 PM and filed a complaint. Senior officers arrived shortly after to take stock of the situation, with the case quickly drawing attention from higher levels of the city's police administration.

Three Stations Mobilised

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Dishesh Agarwal confirmed that teams from three police stations have been assigned to the case. Around 25 personnel are currently deployed in the effort to identify and arrest the accused. Officers remained at the police station well past 2 AM, piecing together the movement of the suspects and analysing available footage.

Insider Angle Being Probed

A detail that investigators are reportedly not ruling out is the possibility of prior knowledge on the assailants' part. Police sources indicate that suspicion has emerged over whether someone acquainted with the collection agent may have tipped off the robbers about the cash he was carrying that evening. The exact route and timing of the robbery have reinforced these doubts, though no arrests have been made so far.

Next Steps

The investigation remains active, with police teams spread across the area in search of leads. Footage from multiple CCTV points is being reviewed to build a clearer picture of where the accused went after the incident. Authorities have not yet ruled out the use of technical surveillance to track the Activa used in the crime.

Further details are expected to emerge as the probe progresses over the coming day.

Indore Extortion Racket Exposed

Lawrence Gang's 'Corporate' Double-Shooter Tactics Target Builders

Police interrogations have peeled back layers of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang's operations in Indore, revealing a tightly run extortion network that spied even on its own shooters. Key arrests have exposed how Harry Boxer, a shadowy overseas operative, orchestrated threats against prominent builders while demanding crores in cryptocurrency ransoms.

Double Surveillance on Gang Members

Crime Branch sources say Rajpal Chandrawat, recently nabbed in connection with a firing incident, confessed to the gang's paranoia-fueled methods during questioning. Chandrawat revealed that before any hit or reconnaissance, Harry Boxer's team deployed "double shooters"—shadow operatives tailing their own men to prevent betrayal or slip-ups. This fear kept lower-rung criminals in line, with some surrendering to police out of sheer dread, according to initial reports.

The setup was almost corporate in its precision, insiders noted. Encrypted apps like FaceTime and Signal handled all internal chatter, dodging law enforcement surveillance.

Rs 5 Crore Crypto Heist from Builder

A major breakthrough came in the extortion of a city builder, where the gang squeezed nearly Rs 5 crore without direct cash handovers. Funds were funneled via cryptocurrency to Dubai, then routed to Boxer abroad—the builder, spooked by threats to his family, stayed silent and skipped filing a complaint. Police confirmed the victim operated from upscale areas, but details remain guarded to protect ongoing probes.timesofindia.

Chandrawat, acting from jail, coordinated reconnaissance on this target using Dev as contacts, Crime Branch officers added.

Next Target: Racecourse Road Builder

Interrogation transcripts point to Vivek Dammami, a builder on posh Racecourse Road, as the next mark. Gangster Sonu alias Ritesh from Jeetnagar was tasked with full surveillance—photos, locations, family details—all prepped for a firing to enforce compliance. The plan fizzled when police nabbed Ritesh, an associate of Chandrawat, averting the strike.timesofindia.indiatimes+1

Dammami's office got the chilling WhatsApp call around 10:30 am on April 14, with the caller—posing as Harry Boxer—boasting real-time tracking of his son and vowing bullets if Rs 5 crore wasn't paid.

Firing Link to Bio-Cotton Trader

Chandrawat owned up to the firing outside bio-cotton trader Dilip Singh Rathore's home in Kasrawad, Khargone. He'd tipped off the gang about a Rs 50 lakh dispute, triggering a Rs 10 crore extortion demand via voice notes. Sumer Singh Solanki, a close Dev as ally of Chandrawat, is now in custody over this episode.

Rathore was away in Indore during the late-evening shots, but videos of the attack followed, ramping up pressure.

NIA's Prior Shadow

Chandrawat and Yogesh Bhati pop up in NIA files from high-profile cases, including the rocket launcher assault on Punjab Police Intelligence headquarters. The agency had grilled them earlier, linking them to Lawrence's broader terror network.

From Ratlam's Hathnara village, Chandrawat drove for a local leader before running a school that folded in 2021 amid money woes—pushing him into crime.

Business Community on Edge

Indore's builders and traders are rattled, with threats hitting two more businessmen for Rs 10 crore just days after Dammami's scare—property dealer Chetan Singh Panwar and partner Kunwar Singh Bhuria. Crime Branch has ramped up security and formed an SIT, vowing to dismantle the module.

Police hint at GST and RERA data leaks fueling target lists, signaling a tech-savvy upgrade in gang tactics. As probes deepen, expect more arrests—Indore's underbelly is cracking open.

Indore Police have uncovered a finance company vehicle seizure racket in which private agents allegedly used leaked borrower data to illegally seize vehicles from loan defaulters and demand money for their return. One accused has been arrested in the case, while two others remain absconding, police said.

The case surfaced in Indore’s Hiranagar area after a local resident alleged that his financed motorcycle was forcibly taken away by three men who claimed to be acting on behalf of a finance company. Police said the accused were not authorised recovery agents but were working on commission and allegedly targeting borrowers whose instalments were overdue.

Complaint Triggers Probe

According to officials, the case came to light after Rajiv Nagar resident Shakeel Khan filed a complaint with Hiranagar police. Khan, a mechanic by profession, told police that he had purchased a motorcycle in 2025 through vehicle finance from L&T.

He alleged that while returning home from Aurobindo Hospital two days ago, three men intercepted him near the MR-10 area and accused him of defaulting on loan instalments. The men then forcibly took away his motorcycle and left the spot.

Fraud Recovery Tactic

Khan later approached the finance company office to verify whether the vehicle had been lawfully repossessed. Officials there reportedly told him that no authorised staff member had seized the motorcycle.

This raised suspicion and prompted Khan to begin tracing the vehicle on his own. During his search, he reportedly spotted one of the men riding the motorcycle. When confronted, the accused allegedly demanded money in exchange for returning the vehicle.

Police said this established that the seizure was not part of any lawful recovery process but an extortion attempt carried out under the guise of loan recovery.

One Accused Arrested

Acting on the complaint, Hiranagar police launched an investigation and arrested Neeraj Lodhi. During questioning, Lodhi allegedly admitted that he and two associates had been identifying vehicle owners with pending instalments and forcibly taking possession of their vehicles.

Police said the accused were working on commission and were not officially employed by any finance company. Investigators suspect they were part of an informal recovery network operating outside legal procedures and using borrower vulnerability for financial gain.

The two other accused named by Lodhi are currently absconding. Police teams have been deployed to trace and arrest them, as per reports.

Data Leak Under Lens

A key part of the investigation now centres on how the accused obtained sensitive borrower information. Police said preliminary findings suggest that lists of loan defaulters were being shared with the accused through unofficial channels.

According to investigators, the men received details of customers who had defaulted on instalments, including contact numbers and vehicle information, and used that data to identify and target victims.

Police are now examining whether insiders linked to finance companies or third-party recovery networks leaked customer records. Officials indicated that those found responsible for sharing data could also be made accused in the case.

Recovery Rules Questioned

The case has raised fresh questions over loan recovery practices and the role of unauthorised agents in vehicle repossession. Under existing norms, finance companies must follow due legal process while recovering financed assets and cannot permit coercive seizure by unauthorised individuals.

Any use of force, intimidation or unlawful repossession falls outside regulated recovery procedures and may attract criminal liability. The latest case is likely to draw scrutiny from regulators and law enforcement over informal recovery arrangements and borrower data handling.

Probe Expands Further

Police said the investigation is now focused on identifying the full network behind the finance company vehicle seizure racket, including those who supplied borrower data and enabled illegal recoveries.Officials are also examining whether similar incidents have taken place in other parts of the city.

A failed ransom bid in the Indore kidnapping case ended within seven hours on Thursday after police rescued two boys and arrested four neighbours who allegedly plotted the abduction to make quick money. According to officials, the accused had surveyed children from well-off families in their locality before picking up two boys from a public garden in Indore’s Lalaram Nagar.

Children Traced Fast

The two boys, Naitik, 9, and Samrat, 11, were allegedly abducted on Thursday evening from a garden in Lalaram Nagar by people known to them. Police said the children were taken to a flat in Dutt Nagar, where they were kept while the accused prepared to seek ransom from their families.

The Indore kidnapping case was cracked after a relative of one of the boys alerted family members when the children failed to return home. The information quickly reached police, triggering a city-wide search operation.

Four Accused Arrested

Police arrested four accused within hours of the complaint. They were identified as Vineet Prajapati, 22, his sister Radhika Prajapati, 19, Lalit Sen, 21, and his wife Tanisha, 20.

Investigators said Vineet and Radhika were the alleged masterminds of the plot, while Lalit and Tanisha helped execute the kidnapping. All four lived in the same neighbourhood and were known to one another.

Shortcut For Money

According to police, the accused planned the abduction after prolonged financial distress and unemployment. Vineet had reportedly been out of work for six months after losing his job and was struggling with unpaid rent and debt.

Lalit, a driver, was also unemployed for months. Tanisha had worked earlier in the private sector but was reportedly facing financial strain. Officials said the group decided to target children after discussing ways to earn money quickly.

Police sources indicated that Tanisha had asked Radhika about a “shortcut” to make money. During that conversation, Radhika allegedly suggested kidnapping children who visited a local garden and demanding ransom from their families.

Children Were Surveyed

Police said the accused had watched children visiting the garden for several days and identified those they believed came from financially strong households. The plan was to abduct children from affluent families and demand ransom.

However, investigators said the accused misjudged their targets. Instead of picking children from wealthy homes, they allegedly abducted two boys from working-class families. Officials said the accused were unaware that one child’s father runs a juice cart while the other earns by playing the dholak.

Lured With Promise

Police said the children were taken away on the pretext of being shown birds and animals. One of the accused allegedly persuaded the boys to accompany her before taking them to a flat.

During questioning, the boys told police they were made to sit inside the room, given food and allowed to play mobile games. Later, when they insisted on going home, the accused allegedly threatened them after failing to secure money. Officials said the children were then told to hide when police arrived and were made to believe “goons” had come to harm them.

Police Rescue Operation

Indore Police tracked the children using mobile location inputs and surveillance leads. According to officials, plainclothes personnel monitored the suspected flat after noticing unusual activity, including repeated switching of lights and movement inside.

Once suspicion was confirmed, police raided the premises and rescued both boys safely. The four accused were detained on the spot.

Police Commissioner Santosh Singh monitored the operation through the night, officials said. Senior officers coordinated teams across multiple police station limits to ensure the children were traced before any ransom exchange could take place.

Earlier Crime Plan

During interrogation, police found that the four had allegedly discussed another serious crime days earlier. Officials said the group had first planned to rob a jewellery shop about a week ago but dropped the idea after it failed to materialise. Investigators believe the kidnapping plan was then drawn up as an alternative.