Cuttack Paneer Adulteration Case: CMC Files Complaint Against 11 After Lab Report

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 (UDN): The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Health Department has filed a complaint against 11 people in connection with the alleged sale of adulterated paneer in Cuttack after laboratory analysis detected maida, starch powder and detergent in samples collected from seized dairy products.

 Representational Image 

The complaint was lodged at Madhupatna police station after the CMC received the laboratory report on samples taken from a large consignment of paneer seized during an enforcement operation.

Samples Test Positive for Adulterants

According to officials, around 73 quintals of paneer had been seized during inspections involving 11 traders. The dairy products were reportedly transported to Cuttack from Niali.

A portion of the seized stock, estimated at around 17 quintals, was destroyed, while samples were sent to a laboratory in Haryana for detailed examination.

The test report subsequently detected detergent powder, maida and starch powder in the samples.

Adulteration Allegedly Used to Alter Paneer

The laboratory findings reportedly indicated that the substances were being used to alter the texture and composition of the paneer, including making it softer and smoother and increasing its weight.

The complaint names 11 individuals, including some small-scale farmers and vendors, in connection with the alleged adulteration and sale of the products.

The police complaint is expected to form the basis for further investigation into the source, preparation and distribution of the suspected adulterated paneer.

Consumer Safety Concerns

The findings have raised concerns over the quality of dairy products reaching consumers in Cuttack.

Paneer is widely consumed across Odisha, and the reported detection of non-food substances in seized samples has prompted renewed attention to food safety inspections and enforcement against adulteration.

Authorities have previously conducted food safety drives in several Odisha cities, including Bhubaneswar, Balasore, Berhampur and Sambalpur, following reports involving suspected adulterated paneer.

Food Safety Officer Transferred

The case had earlier led to administrative action involving Cuttack Food Safety Officer Amita Das, who was transferred on September 24 following the paneer adulteration issue reported from the Niali area.

The transfer came around the time the laboratory findings from Haryana were received, according to reports.

Further action in the case will depend on the police investigation and applicable food safety proceedings.

What India Is Drinking 2026: Bombay Sapphire, Don Julio, Grey Goose, Bacardi, Indri, Woodburns Among Most Popular Brands In Premium Indian Bars. Picante The Most Popular Cocktail.

The fourth edition is based on a survey of 155 bars across 18 cities, with participation up 24% from last year, representing bar owners, head bartenders and beverage leads.

Respondents mentioned 527 brands across 21 categories, of which 166 were Indian homegrown brands

Picante takes the #1 spot in the new national cocktail ranking, accounting for 40% of votes, ahead of Negroni

NEW DELHI, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 30BestBarsIndia, in partnership with The Outlier, have released the 2026 edition of What India Is Drinking (WIID): India’s most comprehensive snapshot of consumer brand preferences across the country’s leading bars. Now in its fourth year, the report maps how drinking behaviour continues to evolve across categories, cocktails, and cities, reflecting both steady favourites and shifting trends.

The 2026 edition is based on a survey of 155 premium bars across 18 cities, a 24% increase in participating bars from last year, with respondents including bar owners, head bartenders, and beverage leads. Collectively, respondents mentioned 527 brands across 21 categories of alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks and mixers. 166 were Indian homegrown brands.

This year’s findings point to a market where established global brands continue to hold strong positions, while more Indian brands are entering the top 10 across categories. Cocktail preferences are showing a growing appetite for bold, distinctive flavours, with Picante emerging as India’s most popular cocktail in the new national cocktail ranking. It is the top-selling cocktail in most surveyed cities.

Appended are one key insight from each category:

Category Breakdown

Spirit category stalwarts Bombay Sapphire, Don Julio, Grey Goose, Jagermeister, Campari, Bacardi, Hennessy, Indri, Johnnie Walker, Yamazaki, Glenfiddich, Kingfisher and Corona retain the top positions from last year in their respective categories. The only significant change is in the Indian Premium Whisky category, where Woodburns replaces Oaksmith as the leader.

Among the Wine categories, Sula, Jacob’s Creek and Moët & Chandon continue to champion their categories, while we see Chandon overtake Cinzano as India’s most popular Sparkling Wine.

Indian brands aren’t far behind, across categories. In Gin, Hapusa, Greater Than, Jaisalmer and Stranger & Sons retain their positions in the Top 10. Brands are highlighting more Indian botanicals and local produce, while flavoured gins continue to broaden consumer choice and bring new drinkers into the category, including from Tier II and Tier III markets.

One of the biggest movements this year has been in the Amaro & Aperitif category, where we have two Indian brands in the Top 10: Davana Vermouth Indica and Paapi Absinthe. Maya Pistola Agavepura holds its own in the Agave category, as the only Indian brand in the Top 10; similar to Smoke Lab in the Vodka category.

India’s Most Popular Cocktails 

Nationally, the Picante takes the crown as the country’s most popular cocktail in 2026, with the Negroni and Espresso Martini close behind; a lineup that points to a clear trend: drinkers are gravitating toward white spirit-led cocktails built on bold, assertive flavours, whether it’s the heat of spice or the bite of bitterness.

The category breakdowns show the Negroni, Picante, Espresso Martini and Daiquiri all holding onto their respective crowns, signalling a market where preferences have settled rather than shifted. The one notable reversal comes in whisky, where the Whisky Sour reclaims the top spot from the Old Fashioned; a return to form for 2024’s favourite.

Radhakrishnan Nair, Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, notes: “2026 shows a settling of long-term consumer behaviour alongside pockets of sharp change. Categories like Gin, Scotch, Aperitifs and Agave continue to be led by global giants, but the pace at which Indian brands are consolidating their presence is significant. The city-level variations are sharper this year; what sells in a Bengaluru cocktail bar looks different from what leads in Jaipur or Kolkata. WIID 2026 captures these shifts clearly and offers a realistic view of what customers are choosing at the bar.”

Vikram Achanta, Co-Founder of 30BestBarsIndia, adds: “We’re seeing that brands that are most consistent in terms of their advocacy initiatives with the on-trade as well as community-building initiatives such as bartending competitions are seeing that pay off in the trade via bartender loyalty when it comes to cocktail creation as well as recommendations to a guest. With the expected influx of both international brands due to FTAs (Free Trade Agreements) that have been drawn up or are under negotiation, as well as more and more Indian brands joining the mix, such advocacy-based initiatives will go a long way to building entry barriers for savvy brands.“

City Insights

2026 shows a market where some drinking preferences are becoming firmly established, while others remain distinctly shaped by the city. Categories like Brandy continue to show strong national consensus, with Hennessy leading across all eight markets, while Gin tells a different story: Bombay Sapphire leads nationally, but Hendrick’s takes Gurgaon, and Roku leads in Pune.

These differences show that India’s bar culture isn’t moving toward one uniform drinking pattern but is developing its own local nuances.

All bars surveyed have been operational for at least six months. Click here to access the full WIID 2026 report and explore category-wise rankings.

The category-wise rankings and comparison to last year is appended below:

About 30BestBarsIndia: Co-founded in 2019 by Vikram Achanta and Radhakrishnan Nair of Bar 30 India LLP, 30BestBarsIndia aims to raise awareness about the rising standards of Indian bars and beverages nationally, and on international platforms. 30BestBarsIndia’s rankings of the country’s best bars in the previous six editions in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have included well-known bars that have gone on to be part of international bar ranking lists. In addition to its rankings, 30BestBarsIndia has expanded its influence with the “What India Is Drinking” report, an annual study that provides valuable insights into consumer brand preferences across the country’s top bars. To see the report and full list of bar rankings, please visit 30bestbarsindia.in

Media Contact:

30BB@theoutlierpr.com

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Hirakud Dam Opens 30 Gates as Reservoir Inflow Rises

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 (UDN): Authorities at Odisha’s Hirakud Dam opened two additional sluice gates on Monday, taking the total number of gates releasing water from the reservoir to 30 amid a continued rise in inflow.

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Of the 30 gates currently open, 20 are on the left side and 10 on the right side of the dam, according to the latest update from the dam authorities.

Reservoir Level Crosses 629 Feet

As per the 12 noon bulletin, the water level in the Hirakud reservoir stood at 629.52 feet.

The average inflow into the reservoir was recorded at 6,30,605 cusecs, while the average outflow was earlier reported at 4,97,190 cusecs.

Following the opening of two more gates, the current outflow increased to 5,30,246 cusecs. Of this, around 4,92,060 cusecs was being released through the spillway.

Downstream Discharge on the Rise

The increased release has also pushed up water discharge at downstream monitoring points.

At Mundali, the discharge was recorded at 7,83,770 cusecs and was showing an upward trend. Other gauge stations, including Belgaon, Patharla, Khairmal and Barmul, were also reporting substantial water discharge.

Authorities Monitor Situation

Dam authorities are keeping a close watch on the reservoir level, inflow and downstream discharge following the latest increase in water release.

People living in low-lying areas downstream have been advised to remain alert and follow instructions issued by local authorities as the situation develops.

Crypto, Sports, Esports: Bybit Gamifies Freedom of Choice Through ByPick

DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, has introduced ByPick, a free-to-play prediction game built on winning points other than prize money. Launched with a “Make Your Pick” campaign, ByPick enables users to forecast outcomes across crypto, sports, and esports and major market-moving financial events, with participants racing to build winning streaks and climbing seasonal leaderboards for a share of a 100,000 USDT leaderboard prize pool.

Prediction markets have become a defining trend across financial platforms, drawing millions of participants to platforms built on real-money wagers. That model has also brought controversy and introduced a slew of risk factors for players. ByPick takes a different format: a points-based game in the Bybit app, where the outcome of a pick affects a user’s streak and leaderboard standing instead of a direct shift in a wallet balance.

Make Your Pick: Turning Opinions into Fun Gameplay and Rewards

To participate, eligible Bybit users may register for the event to receive 200 Campaign Points  as a one-time starter bonus, with no deposit or trading tasks required. From there, a Points Top-up Station keeps active users supplied: eligible users who complete a trade that day can refill their balance back up to a 200 cp floor once every 24 hours, with the offer resetting at 00:00 UTC.

Participants can also embark on their personal quest for additional points by completing tasks, including daily check-ins for consistency and receiving milestone bonuses for consecutive streaks. A variety of tasks are tailored to players of various styles:

• Correct picks pay out Campaign Points proportionally based on the odds at the time of the prediction.
• Battle Pass milestones unlock further Campaign Points.
• Designated Trading Tasks offer a repeatable, uncapped way to earn Campaign Points through qualifying trades.
• Referrals yield Campaign Points for each friend who joins.
• New players who register partway through the season are automatically enrolled in a time-limited Sprint Task with enhanced Campaign Points rewards, giving later joiners a way to close the gap on the leaderboard.

All users are ranked on a single leaderboard based on total Campaign Points earned during the season, with two prize pools for user groups divided by a threshold of 10,000 USDT in cumulative trading volume, including the Standard Prize Pool and the Grand Prize Pool.

The community-first, experience-based new feature underscores Bybit’s commitment to serving its global user base and meeting every Bybit customer’s diverse needs, unlocking one financial freedom at a time.

ByPick is available now to eligible Bybit users through the Bybit app under the Make Your Pick campaign. Terms and conditions apply. For details, users may visit: ByPick Season 1: Free Picks to Earn Points

Campaign Points (cp) have no monetary value and cannot be withdrawn or transferred. Bybit reserves the right of final interpretation.

About Bybit

Bybit is The New Financial Platform.

We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.

Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.

Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.

Learn more at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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Odisha Collects Rs 95.91 Lakh in Food Safety Penalties Over Two Years

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 (UDN): The Odisha government has collected around Rs 95.91 lakh in penalties from food safety violators over the past two years, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling informed the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

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The minister said the state has stepped up inspections, food sampling and enforcement measures to check adulteration and ensure compliance with food safety regulations across districts and urban local bodies.

Nearly 40,000 Food Samples Tested

Replying to a question from MLA Souvik Biswal in the Assembly, Mahaling said enforcement teams collected 7,392 legal samples and 32,498 surveillance samples during the two-year period.

The samples were collected from different parts of the state as part of regular food safety inspections and surveillance activities.

Over 427 Quintals of Suspected Adulterated Food Destroyed

The enforcement drive also resulted in the seizure and disposal of large quantities of food items suspected to be adulterated.

According to the minister’s statement, around 427.86 quintals of adulterated food items were destroyed during the period under review.

431 Cases Registered

Authorities also initiated legal proceedings against those found violating food safety provisions.

A total of 431 cases were filed, comprising:

298 adjudication cases
133 prosecution cases

The government said the enforcement measures are part of its efforts to strengthen monitoring of food products and curb adulteration across Odisha.

Focus on Food Safety Enforcement

The state has continued inspections and sample testing through designated food safety authorities, with enforcement action being taken where violations are detected.

The figures presented in the Assembly highlight the scale of sampling, seizure and legal action undertaken during the two-year period.

Odisha Orders District-Wise Review of Unused Government Land

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 28 (UDN): The Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Department has directed all district Collectors to conduct a time-bound review of government land that has remained unused for extended periods or is being used in violation of the purpose for which it was allotted.

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The review will cover government land provided through advance possession, permissive possession, lease and alienation, with authorities instructed to identify cases requiring resumption, relinquishment or other action under the applicable laws.

Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr Arabinda Kumar Padhee, in a communication to all Collectors, said government land is a valuable public resource and must be protected from unauthorised occupation, misuse and unlawful retention.

Collectors Asked to Act Within Legal Framework

District administrations have been instructed to undertake field-level verification and take necessary action wherever land is found to be lying unused or being utilised for purposes other than those approved.

The department has also stressed that revenue officials must discharge their statutory responsibilities impartially and in accordance with the law, particularly in cases involving influential individuals, organisations or vested interests.

The government has further warned that if any involvement or collusion of government employees with vested interests or corrupt entities is established, disciplinary and criminal proceedings may be initiated under applicable laws.

Review of Land Given in Advance Possession

For land provided under advance possession, officials have been directed to take action under Rule 11-A of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983.

Pending cases will undergo field verification. If the allotted land is found unused or diverted from the sanctioned purpose, authorities will initiate the prescribed process for revesting it with the government.

Permissive Possession Cases Under Scanner

The utilisation status of land granted under permissive possession will also be examined.

Where such land is vacant or the conditions attached to permissive possession have not been followed, action will be taken under Rule 9-A(2) of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983, the department said.

Leased Land to Face Case-by-Case Review

Government land leased to institutions, organisations and individuals will be reviewed individually.

Cases where leased land has remained unused for more than three years from the date of settlement, or where it is being used for an unauthorised purpose, will be identified for possible resumption.

Where applicable, proceedings under Section 3-B of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Act, 1962 will be undertaken following due legal procedure and principles of natural justice.

Once the resumption process is completed, the land will be restored to government possession and revenue records will be updated wherever necessary.

Departments Asked to Relinquish Unused Land

Land transferred to government departments for specific projects will also undergo field verification.

If land or any portion of it has remained unused for more than three years and is no longer required for the original purpose, the concerned department will be asked to consider relinquishing it to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

Where only part of the transferred land has been utilised, officials will have to specifically assess whether the remaining portion is still required.

Action Against Encroachment

The department has also instructed district administrations to take prompt action against encroachments on government land that has been leased or alienated.

Eviction proceedings will have to be initiated in accordance with the applicable rules and prescribed legal procedures.

Monthly Reports to Track Progress

Collectors have been directed to maintain comprehensive district-wise records covering cases reviewed, cases requiring action, proceedings initiated, completed cases and land restored to government possession.

For regular monitoring, monthly progress reports must be submitted online to the Revenue and Disaster Management Department by the 5th of every month under four categories:

Advance Possession
Permissive Possession
Resumption
Relinquishment

The review has been designated as a priority assignment, with Collectors made responsible for ensuring timely action and preventing unnecessary delays. District administrations have also been asked to clearly assign responsibilities among concerned officials.