The operations, carried out by the Malkajgiri Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (M‑FAST) together with local police and the Special Operations Teams (SOT), targeted three separate businesses and resulted in the arrest of two owners and the seizure of more than a tonne of food products and raw ingredients.
In Hayathnagar, officers from M‑FAST, the SOT LB Nagar team and Hayathnagar police stormed Sri Manikanta (SMK) Golden Food Products and its ginger‑garlic paste manufacturing unit. They detained 38‑year‑old Akula Shivaiah, who was accused of producing the paste with low‑quality raw material, an unidentified liquid and food colour. Investigators seized 13 drums containing 650 kg of paste, 10 boxes with 50 kg, and 150 boxes with another 30 kg – a total of about 730 kg – along with a 3.5‑litre bottle of the unknown solution and a box of food colour. M‑FAST said the paste was being prepared in unhygienic conditions and without complying with food‑safety standards. A case was lodged at Hayathnagar Police Station under Sections 223, 274 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
A second raid in Alwal focused on Natraj Milk and Milk Food Products at Turkapally. The SOT Malkajgiri Team‑II, in coordination with M‑FAST, found the unit making paneer by mixing skimmed milk powder. Police seized roughly 500 kg of loose paneer and two bags containing about 50 kg of skimmed milk powder. The proprietor, 56‑year‑old Japala Natraj, was handed over to Alwal police for further legal action.
The third operation took place in Bowrampet village, Dundigal, where officers raided M/s Yashoda Sweet and Namkeen. Investigators discovered extensive use of skimmed milk powder, oil and vegetable fat in the preparation of halwa and other sweets. They confiscated multiple brands of skimmed milk powder – including about 35 bags each of Shreedhi Premium Gold and Ramsons Spray Dried, plus bags of Dholpur Fresh, Gyan, Lacto Win and Savariya – amounting to dozens of kilograms. In addition, 21 kg of prepared Yashoda Sweet Halwa, roughly 100 tins of Freedom Oil and 50 tins of Dalda were seized. The 32‑year‑old owner, Pushpendra Baghel, was also taken into custody.
All three raids underscore a coordinated effort by Hyderabad authorities to clamp down on food‑safety violations. The seized materials will be examined for compliance with composition and quality standards, and the arrested individuals face prosecution under the sections cited for adulteration, misbranding and endangering public health.