Hyderabad Police Uncover 12 Tonnes of Stale Offal in Major Food Safety Raid
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Hyderabad, April 2 (NationPress) In a relentless effort to combat adulterated and unhygienic food, the police in Hyderabad seized a staggering 12 tonnes of stale offal from sheep and goats, valued at around Rs 10 lakh, during a raid on a stall on Thursday.
The operation was executed by the Commissioner’s Task Force, Golconda team, in collaboration with the H-FAST team and Mangalhat Police, targeting a store in Mangalhat, where the manager, Rafi Ahmed, was apprehended.
Recently, the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) was established under the guidance of Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar.
As reported by A. Srinivas Rao, Additional Deputy Commissioner of the Commissioner’s Task Force, the shop owner, Mohd Afroz, is currently evading arrest.
The confiscated offal included paya, head, brain, kidney, and liver, all sourced illegally from the wholesale market as stale or spoiled products, and stored improperly in deep freezers and stagnant water-filled plastic tubs. These products were allegedly meant for sale at weddings, events, and hotels, posing a serious threat to public health.
A case has been filed under Sections 125, 271, 318(2), and 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Mangalhat Police Station.
In a separate incident, the Golconda team of the Commissioner’s Task Force, in conjunction with Tappachabutra Police, raided a bakery in Natraj Nagar, Jhirra, leading to the arrest of Syed Khadeer for the unlawful production of bakery goods under unsanitary conditions without a valid license.
Authorities confiscated items worth over Rs 2.77 lakh, including maida, dalda, sugar, coconut powder, and cake powder, with a case registered under Sections 274, 275, and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Tappachabutra Police Station.
On the same day, Commissioner Sajjanar convened a meeting with food business operators, cautioning them against endangering public safety for personal gain.
The Commissioner emphasized that stringent legal measures would be enforced against anyone involved in food adulteration, viewing it as a direct assault on societal well-being.
About 200 representatives from diverse sectors, including meat, dairy, and bakery products, participated in the meeting organized by H-FAST.
He disclosed that in the past month, 92 cases were filed across the city, resulting in the seizure of approximately 62 tonnes of adulterated food and the arrest of 98 individuals linked to these illegal activities.
He urged business owners to uphold their responsibilities as citizens and to never compromise on food quality.
Moreover, he highlighted the significance of maintaining Hyderabad's esteemed global reputation and reminded all food business operators of the necessity to have an FSSAI license, encouraging them to report any known instances of food adulteration to the police immediately.