Dairy owner nabbed for manufacturing adulterated ghee worth ₹18.26 lakh in Banjara Hills raid

A 26-year-old dairy owner was arrested for manufacturing adulterated dairy products during a raid in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad.

A 26-year-old dairy owner was arrested and adulterated dairy products worth ₹18.26 lakh seized during a raid by the Commissioner’s Task Force and Masab Tank police in Banjara Hills on Wednesday.

The accused, Mohammed Junaid Hussain, owner of a unit operating under the name ‘Pride Dairy’ at Bhola Nagar, Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, was manufacturing adulterated ghee using cow and buffalo cream mixed with palm oil, vanaspati and other low-quality substances.

Police said the accused was selling the adulterated products as pure ghee to customers, including hotels and event organisers. Though he reportedly held a valid licence, he was found to be illegally adulterating dairy products at the unit.

During the operation, officers seized 460 kg of adulterated ghee, 70 kg of mixed ghee, 2,090 kg of adulterated cow cream and 1,170 kg of adulterated buffalo cream. They also confiscated 28 tins of Ruchi Gold vanaspathi, used oil packets and empty tins used in the manufacturing process.

Machinery and equipment seized from the premises included two boilers, a pushing machine, a packing machine and two weighing machines. Four gas cylinders, 70 basins of various sizes, some containing ghee, 25 empty drums and packing covers were also taken into custody. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at ₹18,26,679.

A case has been booked and further investigation is under way.