Dharampal Satyapal Group

The Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) is a privately held Indian FMCG conglomerate.^[2][3] headquartered in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Established in 1929, the company operates across multiple sectors, including food and beverages, confectionery, tobacco, hospitality, and luxury retail.^[4][5][6]

Dharampal Satyapal Group

Company type	Private
Industry	Conglomerate company
Founders	Dharampal Sugandhi Satyapal Sugandhi
Headquarters	Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ravi Rishi (Chairman) Rajiv Kumar (Vice-chairman)
Products	Food and beverages, tobacco, and hotels
Brands	BABA Birthright Catch Chingles FRU Kewal Ksheer Lalique Group L'Opéra Le Marche Namah Nature’s Miracle and Not Just Nuts (NJN) Pass Pass Pulse Pulse Natkaare Rajnigandha Snack Factory The Manu Maharani Tulsi UnCafe
Revenue	₹5,500 crore (US$650 million) (2023)[1]
Subsidiaries	List Dharampal Satyapal Limited Dharampal Premchand Limited Dharampal Satyapal Sons Private Limited DS Foods Ltd DS Spiceco Private Limited DS Chewing Products LLP DS (Assam) Hospitality Limited Kolkata Hotels Limited Manu Maharani Hotels Limited DS Namah Hospitality Private Limited DS Jaipur Hospitality Private Limited DS Green Agrotech Private Limited DS Global PTE Ltd Nature’s Miracle LLP DS Drinks & Beverages Private Limited
Website	www.dsgroup.com

History

The company was founded in 1929 by Dharampal Sugandhi in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, as a perfumery business producing incense sticks, rose water, and tobacco products. In 1958, Satyapal Sugandhi introduced the BABA tobacco brand.

During the 1980s, the group diversified into packaged foods with the launch of Catch Salt & Pepper (1987)^[7] , followed by Catch Natural Spring Water in 1999.^[7] Its later ventures included confectionery products under brands such as Rajnigandha, Pass Pass, and Pulse Candy.^[8]

In 2019, the DS Group entered the luxury segment by acquiring a stake of about 11-18% in the Switzerland-based Lalique Group.^[9] In 2023, it introduced the Swiss chocolate brand Läderach to India and acquired the Indian confectionery brand LuvIt.^[10][11][12]

Controversies

Plastic packaging violation case

In 2011, the Supreme Court of India issued a contempt notice to Dharampal Satyapal Limited for allegedly violating a ban on the use of plastic sachets for selling products. A representative from the Centre for Public Interest Litigation, the non-governmental organisation that originally filed the application with the court, stated that the company attempted to circumvent the ban by labeling plastic-packaged products as "for export only," while they were instead sold domestically.^[13]

Tax evasion

In 2015, officials from the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence conducted searches at 25 locations of DS Group's companies across several states, based on gathered intelligence. The investigation revealed that fake invoices for declared goods, labelled as "sandalwood compound or oil", were issued to Messrs Dharampal Satyapal Limited through dummy factories in the Haridwar–Roorkee area, Kanpur, and Lucknow. Owners of these front supplier firms admitted to generating bills for DSL on a commission basis without manufacturing or obtaining clearance for declared goods. Allegedly, DS Group evaded taxes by claiming inadmissible Cenvat credit, totaling ₹90 crore (US$11 million).^[14]

In 2019, the company was involved in a ₹900 crore (US$110 million) scam, which revolved around the avoidance of value-added tax (VAT) on tobacco products. According to the state Criminal Investigation Department, the directors of Dharmpal Satyapal Limited and the Gujarat trade were implicated in importing gutka and other tobacco products into the state without proper documentation, selling them in the market, and thereby avoiding the payment of VAT.^[15]

Sealing of the Guwahati factory

In 2022, the Mumbai Crime Branch closed down the company's Guwahati facility after discovering that a Pan masala product produced by the company in Guwahati was found in the possession of a dealer in Solapur (Maharashtra), where the manufacturing, selling, and storage of Pan masala are prohibited.^[16] However, within two weeks, the factory was de-sealed following a Guwahati High Court order.^[17]

Litigations

In 2016, the Supreme Court imposed a fine of ₹4 crore (US$470,000) on Dharampal Satyapal Limited for breaching commitments and causing delays in resolving a 2009 tax dispute. DSL contested a ₹244 crore (US$29 million) tax demand related to Central Excise Duty, briefly applied to the Settlement Commission without reaching an agreement, faced dismissal of its petition by the Delhi High Court, and sought relief from the Supreme Court in 2013, securing a stay order against the tax demand.^[18]