The children, aged between seven and 12 from Dagdi School No 25 at Naupada, began vomitting and showing other symptoms of food poisoning soon after they ate Champion Biscuits handed out by their teachers today, according to the principal, S B Mahajan. While the distributor, Dhanshukh Chaganlal Joshi of C G Traders, has been arrested, the manager of Champion Biscuits Company will be called in for questioning tomorrow, police say. Offences have been registered against Joshi under Sections 273, 337 and 334 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to Police Inspector, Madhav Malve, the four boys and 15 girls who took ill were from Stds I to VII. They were taken to Kalwa Municipal Hospital for treatment. None of them is in serious condition, police say.

A similar incident had occurred at Dativali School No 24 at Diva, where two students tookill after eating biscuits distributed by the same company, C G Traders. The biscuits were found to be stale and unfit for consumption.