Fake ginger-garlic paste to spurious ghee: Hyderabad CTF goes whole hog against food adulteration

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force has intensified its fight against food adulteration and counterfeit consumer goods, conducting a series of coordinated raids across multiple police station limits.

The two-month-long crackdown led to the arrest of several accused involved in manufacturing and supplying adulterated ginger-garlic paste, fake ghee, substandard dairy products, duplicate tea powder, surf packets, mosquito refills, mehendi cones, and other spurious food items.

Officials said the raids were intelligence-driven and aimed at curbing networks that were putting public health at serious risk by using synthetic colours, chemicals, palm oil, vanaspathi, and low-grade raw materials in unhygienic environments.

Ginger-Garlic paste units busted across zones

One of the major focus areas during the recent enforcement drive was adulterated ginger-garlic paste manufacturing units operating in different parts of the city.

In Lalapet under Lallaguda Police Station limits, the Secunderabad Zone Task Force arrested four persons and seized nearly 1,915 kilograms of adulterated paste along with acetic acid, xanthan gum, fake labels, date stamps, grinding and packing machines.

The accused were allegedly mixing chemicals and preserving paste for days in plastic tubs before repackaging and distributing it to local kirana stores.

In a separate operation under Lake Police Station limits near MS Maqtha, the Khairtabad Zone Task Force seized nearly 4,000 kilograms of adulterated paste from a unit operating with an expired FSSAI licence.

The paste was found stored in open tubs exposed to dust and flies, while large quantities of salt and acetic acid were recovered from the premises.

Similarly, in Jalpally under Pahadishareef Police Station limits, the Shamshabad Zone Task Force busted another unit operating as “SK Royal Enterprises” and “Shahi Gold Companies,” arresting four persons and seizing substandard ginger-garlic paste products and synthetic food colours worth approximately Rs. 10 lakh.

On March 10, Hyderabad Task Force sleuths arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly manufacturing and selling adulterated ginger-garlic paste under unhygienic conditions at Mallepally.

During a surprise inspection, officials seized 1,090 kg of adulterated paste, 875 kg of loose ginger and garlic, synthetic colours, chemicals, and machinery worth ₹2.20 lakh.

The accused was reportedly supplying the unsafe product to wholesale stores, restaurants, and caterers across the city. A case has been registered at Habeeb Nagar Police Station for further investigation.

Dairy adulteration racket in Banjara Hills

In one of the biggest seizures, the Golconda Zone Task Force, along with Masabtank Police, raided a dairy unit named “Pride Dairy” at Bholanagar, Banjara Hills.

The accused was allegedly manufacturing adulterated ghee by mixing palm oil, vanaspathi, and low-quality substances with cow and buffalo cream.

Police seized 460 kilograms of adulterated ghee, 2,090 kilograms of cow cream, 1,170 kilograms of buffalo cream, along with boilers, packing machines, gas cylinders, and vanaspathi tins.

The total seized property was valued at over Rs. 18.26 lakh. Officials said the products were being supplied to the public, hotels, and event organizers as pure ghee, posing serious health risks.

Duplicate FMCG products flooding local markets

The Special Crime Team of CCS, Hyderabad City, along with Goshamahal and Afzalgunj Police, busted a duplicate FMCG racket that was circulating fake branded products in Begumbazar and surrounding areas.

Three accused were apprehended with duplicate tea powder packets of popular brands, fake surf detergent sachets, mosquito repellent refills, and thousands of duplicate packaging covers.

Police revealed that the accused procured low-quality raw materials and fake packaging from outside the state and sold the products at discounted prices while misrepresenting them as genuine branded goods.

In another operation in the West Zone, the Task Force uncovered a tea powder adulteration unit in Sanath Nagar, where cocopeat mixed with jaggery water and synthetic colours like Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine was blended with low-grade tea dust to produce adulterated tea powder. The accused allegedly supplied the same to local tea stalls.

Duplicate Mehendi and Substandard Fenia units busted

In January, the South-East Zone Task Force raided a manufacturing unit in Balapur producing duplicate “Karachi Mehendi” cones. Over 8,400 cones, mixing machines, oxalic acid, and packaging materials worth approximately Rs. 8 lakh were seized. The accused were allegedly selling unbranded mehendi as a popular market brand to shops in the twin cities.

In another case, the Golconda Task Force and Kulsumpura Police busted a warehouse near Jiyaguda where substandard fenia (pheniyaan) was being manufactured using low-quality maida and vanaspathi under unhygienic conditions. Goods worth nearly Rs. 3.98 lakh were seized.

Pattern of violations

Across all raids conducted between January and March 2026, officials observed a recurring pattern: use of synthetic colours, palm oil, vanaspathi, citric and acetic acids; expired or fake FSSAI licences; duplicate packaging of branded products; and production in unhygienic, unregulated units.

Many of the accused were targeting small retail shops, tea stalls, hotels, and bulk buyers by offering products at cheaper rates.

Addl DCP Ande Srinivasa Rao’s Statement

Speaking on the sustained crackdown, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissioner’s Task Force, (Hyderabad City) Ande Srinivasa Rao said the operations were part of a focused enforcement strategy to protect public health.

“We are conducting continuous intelligence-based raids across all zones of Hyderabad to curb food adulteration and counterfeit consumer goods. Those who compromise public health for illegal profits will face stringent legal action under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Our teams are closely monitoring suspicious manufacturing units and supply chains,” he stated.

He further appealed to citizens to remain vigilant while purchasing food and household items. “Consumers should verify QR codes, check packaging details, and avoid unusually discounted branded goods. If anyone comes across suspected adulteration or duplicate products, they should immediately inform Hyderabad Police through Dial 100. Identity of informants will be kept confidential,” he added.

Strong message to offenders

With over ten major raids conducted in just two months, multiple arrests made, and adulterated goods worth several lakhs seized, the Hyderabad Task Force has sent a clear message to those operating illegal food and counterfeit product units.

Officials indicated that further inspections and surprise checks will continue in the coming weeks as part of the ongoing drive to safeguard consumer health in the city.