'Stop spreading baseless stories': Siya Goyal's father after spice shop sealed

Praveen Goyal (L) claims his family faces unnecessary harassment after the FDA suspended their shop.

PUNE: Praveen Goyal, father of murder accused Siya Goyal, on Thursday alleged that his family was being “harassed unnecessarily” after Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended operations at their spice and dry fruits shop over alleged food safety violations.Maintaining that he was fully cooperating with the investigation into the murder of Pune realtor Ketan Agarwal, Goyal said people should stop circulating “baseless stories” linking his family to the case, news agency PTI reported.“I stand with the judiciary and the law, and I will fully cooperate with the investigation. But people are repeatedly targeting my family, and it feels as though I am being punished instead.

My family is suffering because of this. I have been under stress for a long time,” he said.

At the same time, Goyal said his daughter should face the strictest punishment if she is found guilty.“Regarding my daughter, if she is found guilty, she should be given the strictest punishment,” he said.Siya Goyal, 20, and her boyfriend Chetan Chaudhary, 22, are accused of pushing her fiancé, Ketan Agarwal, 25, off a cliff at Lohagad Fort in Pune district during a trek on June 18, resulting in his death.

Siya is currently in judicial custody.

Father says complying with FDA directions

The FDA recently issued a notice to M/s BG Goyal and Company, a spice and dry fruits shop in Pune’s Market Yard area owned by Siya Goyal’s family.The FDA has directed it to suspend business operations until further orders over alleged violations of food safety norms.Speaking about the inspection, Praveen Goyal said food department officials visited his shop on Tuesday, around 11.30 am, and collected four samples.According to him, the samples included turmeric powder, soya chunks and sesame seeds, PTI reported.He maintained that the products belonged to reputed brands and that he possessed all the purchase bills.Goyal also said the issue was largely related to his shop’s licence.“The other issue is related to my shop’s licence that I have now applied for, expected to come within eight to ten days. Until then, I have been asked to keep the shop closed, and I am complying.

The shop has not been sealed,” he said.

FDA cites food safety violations

According to FDA officials, the establishment was directed to suspend operations after it allegedly failed to comply with mandatory provisions under the Food Safety and Standards Act.During the inspection, officials collected four food samples, including turmeric powder of the ‘Sant’ and ‘Sadhu’ brands, sesame seeds and soybean chunks.The agency also seized 4,172 kg of these products, valued at Rs 8.14 lakh, citing suspected labelling violations and possible adulteration.Officials further said the establishment had failed to update necessary details in its food licence, following which it was directed to halt business activities until further orders.