The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has busted a major tea adulteration racket operating across the city, raising serious concerns about public health. The team raided 15 manufacturing units and arrested 10 persons involved in the illegal preparation and supply of adulterated tea powder. The operation resulted in the seizure of 3000 kg of adulterated tea powder, 1500 kg of expired tea powder, 100 kg of jaggery powder, and artificial synthetic colours.
The raids were conducted after the Hyderabad City Police received credible information about large-scale adulteration of tea powder in the city. Investigations revealed that operators of 10 manufacturing units were mixing artificial synthetic colours and using low-quality materials to increase their profit margins. The adulterated tea was being supplied to roadside vendors as well as reputed establishments across Hyderabad, putting thousands of tea consumers at risk.
During the investigation, accused persons demonstrated to the media how they were mixing synthetic colours into low-quality tea. The operators were found to be involved in unsafe and illegal practices such as mixing artificial colours, jaggery juice, used tea powder, and expired tea powder to improve the appearance of their products. The accused had procured low-quality tea powder from vendors in Kolkata, Kerala, and Assam, and then adulterated it using synthetic food colours.
The investigation revealed that the manufacturing units were using harmful synthetic food colours including Sunset Yellow FCF, Tartrazine, and other total dye colours to make the tea appear more appealing to consumers. These chemical additives pose serious health risks when consumed regularly. The racket had been operating for a considerable period, supplying adulterated tea to both small roadside tea stalls and established vendors in the city.
The 10 arrested accused persons include Paresh Rajan from Kompally who supplied colours, Sanju Pati from Petlaburj who prepared and mixed colours, Satish from Musheerabad involved in mixing colour and supply, Naveen from Bowenpally who mixed colours, and Narsimha from Asifnagar who mixed colours and prepared illegal 250g packets. Others arrested are Chunnilal Chaudhary from Rajendranagar who prepared adulterated tea powder, Narsimulu from Borabanda, Rajesh from Petlaburj, Ravinder from Bidar, and Waseem from Mallepally, all involved in mixing colours and supply operations.
Hyderabad is famous for its tea culture, with countless roadside tea stalls and established vendors serving the beverage throughout the day. However, this racket has exposed how some unscrupulous operators have been risking public health for profit. The seized materials and manufacturing equipment have been taken into custody for further investigation and legal proceedings against the accused.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, IPS, DCP, Task Force, Hyderabad City Police. The H-FAST team continues to monitor other potential adulteration cases across the city to ensure food safety standards are maintained and public health is protected from such illegal practices.
