UP government crackdown on ‘fake’ Halal certificates; Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind, others named in FIR
A statement issued by the UP government said that the said companies allegedly issued forged halal certificates to various companies for financial gain, thereby not only promoting social animosity but also violating public trust.
Uttar Pradesh News: The Uttar Pradesh Police have launched a massive crackdown on companies allegedly using “fake” halal certificates to exploit people’s religious sentiments to boost sales. The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind – a prominent Muslim organisation, is among the persons named in the FIR registered in the case by the Lucknow police.
According to police, a case has been registered against one company and some other organizations on the basis of a complaint filed at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on Friday by one Shailendra Kumar Sharma – a resident of Motijheel Colony in Aishbagh.
A case has been registered under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 298 (uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to outrage religious sentiments), 384 (extortion ), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.), 468 (forgery for the purpose of deception), 471 (using a forged document or electronic document as genuine ) and 505 (statements leading to public mischief) of the IPC.
In a statement on Saturday, the Uttar Pradesh government said the case has been filed against several entities, namely Halal India Private Limited Chennai, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust Delhi, Halal Council of India Mumbai, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra and others. for allegedly exploiting religious sentiments to boost sales by issuing halal certificates to customers of a specific religion.
Citing the FIR, the statement said that the said companies had allegedly issued fake halal certificates to various companies for financial gain, thereby not only promoting social animosity but also violating public trust.
Jamiat refutes the allegations
Meanwhile, the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust has refuted the allegations as “baseless” and said the organization will “take necessary legal measures to counter such misinformation”.
“We adhere to government regulations as highlighted in the notification issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which requires all halal certification bodies to be registered by NABCB (National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies under Quality Council of India), a milestone that Jamiat Ulama-I- Hind Halal Trust has achieved this,” the report said.
“It is also a matter of choice of individuals and manufacturers who prefer certain certifications for their own satisfaction, based on the credentials held by the certification authorities. It prevents a large number of consumers from using products they do not want for various reasons and ensures that need-based products are available in the market.
“Those who do not wish to use such products are free not to use them,” the report said.
Large-scale conspiracy
The UP government’s statement said the complainant has raised concerns about a possible large-scale conspiracy, indicating attempts to curb sales of products from companies that lack halal certification, which is illegal. There are fears that this unfair advantage will be passed on to anti-social and anti-national elements.
The issuance of halal certificates for vegetarian products such as oil, soap, toothpaste and honey, where such certification is not required, indicates a deliberate criminal conspiracy targeting a specific community and its products, the report said.
The complainant further alleged that, under the guise of religion, “unbridled propaganda” is being pursued within a certain section of society to discourage the use of products without halal certification. This in turn harms the business interests of other communities.
The complainant also expressed concern that these individuals are amassing disproportionate profits and potentially channeling funds to support terrorist organizations and anti-national efforts, the statement said.
(With input from agencies)