MURLIDHAR MEGHRAJ LOYA ETC. vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA ETC.

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellants under Section 2(i) of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954, for selling khurasani oil adulterated with 30% groundnut oil, violating Rule 44(a). The Court clarified that the offence fell under Section 16(1)(a) and not under the proviso, affirming the High Court's decision to enhance the sentence to six months imprisonment and a fine of one thousand rupees. The Court emphasized that the definition of adulteration under Section 2(i)(a) was applicable, and the judicial discretion to reduce the sentence was not warranted in this case.