The Hyderabad Police have busted a major racket involved in manufacturing and selling counterfeit household products across the city. The CCS Special Crime Team seized a large quantity of fake branded items and arrested three persons in connection with the illegal operation.
The police operation led to the recovery of 1,340 duplicate Red Label tea packets and 100 duplicate Taj Mahal tea packets. Additionally, officers seized more than 1,900 fake surf powder packets of popular brands including Tide, Ariel, Wheel, and Surf Excel. The haul also included 3,600 counterfeit Good Night refills, 9,500 duplicate packing covers, and 75 kilograms of raw tea powder.
The three accused have been identified as Jaya Ram (30) from Begumbazar, Kachhawa Surendera (34) from Dullapally, and Hanuman Ram (21) from Barmer, Rajasthan. All three were taken into custody following the raid conducted by the special crime team.
According to police investigations, the accused were sourcing fake packaging covers and low-quality raw materials from Gujarat. They were then repackaging these substandard products to resemble genuine branded items. The operation had been running for a considerable period before authorities caught wind of their activities.
The counterfeit products were being supplied to both retail and wholesale shops in several areas of Hyderabad. The main distribution zones included Goshamahal, Afzalgunj, Begumbazar, and nearby localities. The accused were selling these fake products at discounted rates to attract shopkeepers, who then unknowingly sold them to unsuspecting customers as original branded items.
The racket posed serious risks to consumers who believed they were purchasing genuine products from trusted brands. The use of substandard materials and unhygienic manufacturing conditions could have potentially harmful effects on public health. The duplicate tea products contained low-quality tea powder, while the fake detergent powders and mosquito repellent refills were made with inferior ingredients.
Following the bust, Hyderabad Police have issued an advisory to all consumers in the city. Authorities are urging shoppers to remain vigilant while purchasing household products. Consumers are advised to carefully check QR codes on product packaging and verify the authenticity of items before making purchases.
The police have registered a case against the accused and are investigating whether more individuals are involved in the counterfeit operation. Authorities are also examining the supply chain to identify other potential distributors and retailers who may have knowingly sold these fake products to consumers across the city.
