Karnataka High Court Quashes Case Against HUL CEO Over Biscuit Contamination

The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Hindustan Unilever CEO Rohit Jawa in a pesticide contamination case involving Horlicks biscuits.

The Court held that under Section 66 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, a company must be made an accused before prosecuting its officials.

Since HUL was not named as an accused, the case against Jawa was legally unsustainable.

The Court noted no direct role was attributed to him and granted liberty to file a fresh complaint involving the company. The case stemmed from a 2023 complaint alleging excess chlorpyrifos in biscuits sold in Bengaluru. (Rohit Jawa V State of Karnataka)