Reported by Laxman Sharma
Digboi: Mumbai-based M/s Vidya Caterers, which operates the AOD Canteen under Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), Assam Oil Division, has denied allegations that it supplied expired mango drinks to players during an IOCL-organised cricket tournament in Digboi.
The denial came after a report published in the June 2 edition of Hindi daily Dainik Akela alleged that expired mango drink packs were distributed to players during a cricket match held on Saturday evening.
In a statement, Vidya Caterers described the report as “false, misleading, reckless and defamatory” and alleged that the newspaper published the claims without verifying facts or seeking the company’s response.
“The publication was made without any verification from Vidya Caterers and without seeking our version of facts,” the company stated.
Vidya Caterers said it neither procured, purchased nor supplied the mango drink packs referred to in the report. According to the company, the beverages were arranged separately by IOCL through a third-party vendor and were not part of its authorised supply chain.
The company maintained that it had no role in the procurement, handling or distribution of the beverages and alleged that the report failed to establish any factual link between the products and Vidya Caterers.
“We are shocked that serious allegations were published without even a basic fact-checking exercise. Attributing responsibility to Vidya Caterers without evidence is reckless, defamatory and legally untenable,” the statement added.
The company said it reserves the right to pursue legal action against those responsible for publishing and circulating what it termed defamatory information. It also demanded a retraction, clarification and apology from the publication.
Vidya Caterers further called upon Dainik Akela and its Digboi correspondent Binod Bagra to publish a correction and ensure proper verification before carrying such reports in future.
However, the Assam Oil Division management of Indian Oil had not issued any official statement on the controversy till the filing of this report.
While Vidya Caterers has denied any involvement, questions remain over how the allegedly expired mango drink packs reached players during the tournament. The Assam Oil Division authorities are yet to clarify the source of the beverages, who authorised their distribution, or whether any internal inquiry has been initiated.
The company said it remained willing to cooperate with any independent inquiry into the incident.