Eight persons, including former chief of Manmul, arrested in ₹3 crore milk powder scam

A view of The Mandya Milk Union Limited (MANMUL) at Gejjalagere in Mandya district. | Photo Credit: The Hindu

Eight persons, including the former Chairman of Mandya Milk Union Limited (Manmul) U.C. Shivakumar, have been arrested by the Mandya district police in the alleged milk powder scam estimated to be worth around ₹3 crore.

The arrests followed a complaint lodged at Maddur police station on August 30, 2026, by Ashwini, the Assistant Manager of Quality Assurance Department in Manmul, Gejjalagere, about not only shortage in the Union’s milk powder stock but also its adulteration, while seeking action against the accused Manmul employees.

Maddur police registered the case under various sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and took up investigation.

Superintendent of Mandya district police V.J. Shobharani said the main accused in the case Pradeep Kumar Jadhav, 44, who works as Purchase Officer at Manmul, had allegedly connived with Shivakumar, the former Chairman and present Director of Manmul, to clandestinely divert skimmed milk powder and sell it to private individuals.