Major Food Safety Crackdown in Hyderabad Seizes 3.8 Tonnes of Contaminated Paneer
In a significant enforcement action, the Task Force sleuths of the Khairtabad Zone, in collaboration with GHMC food-safety officials, conducted a targeted raid on six dairy outlets located near Ganj Bazar in Secunderabad, Hyderabad. The operation resulted in the seizure of a staggering 3.8 tonnes of unhygienic and inferior quality paneer, highlighting serious lapses in food safety standards.
Unsanitary Storage and Deceptive Sales Practices Exposed
Investigators revealed that the shops were sourcing paneer, khoa, and other dairy products from unidentified suppliers. These items were stored in open plastic bags, making them highly vulnerable to contamination from dust, insects, and environmental pollutants. Despite these unsanitary conditions, the operators were fraudulently marketing the paneer as high quality and selling it to hotels, caterers, and walk-in customers at Rs 280 per kilogram.
The accused individuals have been identified as:
- Jaipal Singh Rajpurohit
- Kolariya Vaibhav
- Naresh Kolariya
- Prem Anil Vyas
- Ram Kishore Kolariya
- Laxmi Narayana Kolariya
All six were apprehended during the raid and face charges related to food adulteration and consumer fraud.
Detailed Inventory of Seized Adulterated Products
Police confiscated a substantial quantity of adulterated dairy products, with an estimated total value of approximately Rs 11.1 lakh. The seized items include:
- Over 2.5 kilograms of paneer
- 927 kilograms of khoa
- 249 kilograms of white cream
- 132 kilograms of kalakand
- 12 kilograms of ghee
Authorities noted that none of the packages displayed essential information such as brand names, manufacturing dates, or expiry dates. Additionally, no pest-control records were found on the premises, further indicating negligence in maintaining basic hygiene protocols.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The accused individuals and the seized adulterated stock have been handed over to the Mahankali police station for a thorough investigation. This case underscores the critical need for stringent monitoring and enforcement of food safety regulations to protect public health. Consumers are advised to purchase dairy products only from reputable and licensed vendors to avoid health risks associated with contaminated food items.
