Coke wishes to depose before JPC

Coca-Cola India has written a letter to the joint parliamentary committee, probing allegations of pesticides in beverages, seeking permission to depose before it.

While Coke officials were unavailable for comments, company sources confirmed that it has indeed written to the JPC chairman Sharad Pawar and would like to make its stand clear on the pesticide issue.

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The JPC is scheduled to meet again for two days beginning Wednesday.

Coke's letter comes even as the JPC members are believed to have expressed their intention to visit the company's Kerala plant, which bottles all of its brands including Coca-Cola, Fanta, Limca, Maaza and Thums Up.

This plant, situated at Palaghat district, caters to markets across Kerala and the border of Tamil Nadu.

Meanwhile, four separate depositions are expected at the two-day session. Central Ground Water Authority, Pollution Control Board, Food Processing Association and the Indian Bottled Water Association led by Parle chief Ramesh Chauhan are expected to make their presentations before the JPC.