Task Force Raids Sanathnagar, Busts Massive Fake Tea Powder Operation

Hyderabad authorities have uncovered yet another illegal food adulteration case, this time involving the production of fake tea powder . Officials from the Hyderabad City Police Task Force, Jubilee Hills Zone , along with Sanathnagar police, conducted a raid that led to the arrest of a man and the seizure of a large quantity of adulterated tea.

The suspect, Jagannath Bishnoi (33) , admitted to producing fake tea to earn illegal profits . According to police, his method involved mixing cocopet with sugar syrup, drying it, and adding synthetic food colors to make it look like real tea powder.

Investigations revealed that for every kilogram of fake tea, he used 450 grams of low-quality tea dust, 500 grams of substandard tea granules, and 50 grams of colored cocopet mixture. Colors like Sunset Yellow and Tartrazine were added to mimic genuine tea, which he sold at high prices to local tea stalls and other dealers.

Authorities warned that such adulteration poses a serious public health risk . During the raid, police seized 120 kg of fake tea powder, 30 kg of genuine tea, 138 kg of cocopet mixture, along with food colors, weighing machines, and sugar syrup.

The operation was led by West Zone Task Force Inspector C.H. Yadender and SI D. Raviraj . Police urged citizens to buy food products only from authorized and trustworthy vendors and stressed that anyone involved in food adulteration will face strict legal action , including criminal cases.