Cops seize 5,280 kgs of expired milk powder from Secunderabad vendor

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Police has seized as many as 5,280 kgs of expired milk powder from a Secunderabad vendor. The accused has been identified as Chittaboina Damodar.

The milk product had expired, making it unfit for consumption, yet it was being illicitly sold in Hyderabad. All the material worth Rs. 11.50 lakh seized from his possession.

Case details

On credible information the Commissioner’s Task Force, South-East Zone Team, Hyderabad City along with the GHMC food safety officer, raided one premises located at Vijayapuri Colony, Tarnaka, Secunderabad.

The expired milk powder was originally diverted from Karnataka State, where it was intended for distribution to school children under the "Ksheera Bhagya Scheme." This expired milk powder’, was being sold to vendors engaged in making paneer and sweets.

Modus Operandi

The accused Chittaboina Damodar is a resident of Musheerabad, Hyderabad. He is selling milk powder at Vijayapuri Colony, Tarnaka, Secunderabad. Meanwhile he hatched a plan to sell expired milk powder of Nandini Brand which is issued in “Ksheera Bhagya Scheme of Karnataka State Government” it is “Not for Sale”.

Damodar purchased these products from Ravi Kiran, a resident of Sholapur, Karnataka State for Rs 180 per kg and he sells the same to the needy customers at Hyderabad for Rs 210 per kg. The customer who purchased this milk powder from him, prepared “Paneer/Sweets” and also sold it to tea vendors who run businesses on footpath and earn easy money by cheating innocent customers illegally.

Previously he was involved in four cases in Gopalapuram Police Station, Hyderabad in the similar offence. The arrested accused person and seized material handed over to the Food Safety Officer, for further necessary action. A case was registered under Section 59 of FSSAI Act-2009, the police said.