Hyderabad Police Bust Food Adulteration Racket, Seize Chemical-Laced Ice and Lassi Products

Hyderabad, April 2026 : In a major crackdown on food adulteration, Hyderabad Police have seized a large quantity of ice candies and lassi products allegedly laced with harmful chemicals, exposing a disturbing network endangering public health.

Acting on specific inputs, sleuths from the Commissioner’s Task Force (Golconda Zone) in coordination with Mehdipatnam police conducted a raid on an ice cream unit located in Ahmed Nagar in the First Lancer area. During the operation, the team apprehended the unit’s owner, Syed Musharafuddin, who was found to be manufacturing and distributing ice candies and lassi under highly unhygienic conditions.

Authorities revealed that the accused was deliberately using banned and hazardous chemical substances to enhance taste and shelf life, prioritising profit over consumer safety. The total value of the seized materials is estimated at Rs 5.44 lakh.

The police confiscated 92 packets of ice candies, each containing 180 units, and 20 packets of lassi candies with 210 pieces in each. In addition, 300 glasses of lassi, 15 buckets of curd weighing 10 kg each, 50 kg of sugar, a lassi-making machine, 8 kg of citric acid, 500 grams of sucrose, and other equipment were seized from the premises.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force) Ande Srinivas Rao confirmed that a case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 274, 275, and 125, at Mehdipatnam Police Station. Investigations are currently underway to determine the extent of the distribution network and identify other individuals involved.

This raid is part of an intensified drive by city authorities to combat the growing menace of food adulteration. The Telangana government has expressed serious concern over the rising number of such cases. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently announced plans to introduce a dedicated enforcement mechanism to tackle adulteration, drawing parallels with specialised initiatives like EAGLE and HYDRAA.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar issued a stern warning, describing food adulteration as a “silent and deadly threat” to society. He emphasised that everyday food items—from sweets and dairy products to essential kitchen ingredients—are increasingly being compromised.

Highlighting recent enforcement efforts, he noted that in the past month alone, police have registered 61 cases, seized around 15 tonnes of adulterated goods, and arrested 64 individuals.

Reiterating a zero-tolerance policy, officials stated that strict action will continue against offenders, as authorities intensify efforts to ensure safe and trustworthy food for the public.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)