TORONTO -- An investigation into counterfeit industrial Tandoori ovens that Toronto police say could catch fire or even explode has led to charges against a man.
The gas ovens were being sold to restaurants, caterers and some homes and had counterfeit safety certificates, police said, adding some were installed by unqualified gas fitters.
Det. Rob Whalen said the ovens are considered "fire hazards with the possibility of explosions."
He said officers raided three stores and seized three full-size ovens as well as 15 to 20 stock pot burner units, none of which were authorized to be sold as working appliances in Canada.
Several have also been removed from restaurants after temporarily shutting off the gas.
Nearly 300 appliances were imported and of those, about a third have been recovered, police said.
Gautam Mashetty, owner of the Kitchen Queen appliance store, has been charged with possession of property obtained by crime and passing off wares. He is due in court in January.
"The main thing is getting these ovens out of businesses," Whalen said.
Police said the ovens were brought in from India and assembled in Canada.
