Warning: gas ovens sold with bogus safety certificates

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Toronto Police are warning the public after charging an appliance store owner for allegedly selling industrial gas ovens with counterfeit safety certificates, suggesting the appliances are at risk of causing a fire or explosion.

Investigators say Gautham Mashetty, 57, of Toronto, the owner of Kitchen Queen has allegedly sold at least 300 of these ovens to unsuspecting restaurants, caterers and some homeowners. Police say the ovens have counterfeit stickers that suggest the appliances have been approved by Canadian safety authorities. However the ovens don’t comply with Canadian safety standards and pose a hazard.

The ovens were purchased in India, assembled in Canada with improper gas fitters and then sold with the counterfeit stickers. Police say they have recovered approximately 100 of the ovens so far.

Detective Rob Whalen warns, “basically you’ve got a constant flow of natural gas into these with any of these safety features, so if a fire starts it could be an uncontrolled fire or possible explosion.”

The owner is expected to appear in court in January. Anyone who has bought appliances from Kitchen Queen is urged to contact police.