Hyderabad police arrest 2 for supplying beef as mutton to hotels

HYDERABAD: Two persons were apprehended by the Crime Team of the Central Crime Station (CCS) and H-FAST Hyderabad for allegedly supplying beef in place of mutton to several hotels in the city, police said on Tuesday.The accused have been identified as Mohd Osman, owner of Osman Meat Shop in Mallepally, and Mohd Jahangir Pasha, a worker at Ayan Beef Shop.According to Hyderabad Police, the suspects were intercepted on July 1 following specific information. During the operation, officials seized around 50 kg of meat allegedly mixed with beef.Following the apprehension, the CCS team handed over the two suspects to Habeeb Nagar Police Station for further legal action. A case has been registered, and an investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of the alleged supply network and identify all establishments involved.Hyderabad Police said the action was taken based on specific intelligence inputs, and further investigation is underway.Earlier, on June 19, Hyderabad Police's H-FAST (Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team), along with a Food Safety Officer, conducted a surprise raid on an illegal fast food godown operating under the limits of Hussainialam Police Station in the Charminar area and seized 110 kg of adulterated stock.Acting on specific inputs, the team inspected the premises of Al Akbar Fast Food and Godown at New Laad Bazar in Panch Mohalla. Officials found that food items were being prepared and stored in allegedly unhygienic and unsafe conditions.According to officials, the unit was operating without a mandatory licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and was using prohibited artificial food colours, including MSK Lion Green and Raspberry Red.The inspection also revealed the reuse of stale cooking oil, the absence of water quality certification, a lack of pest control measures and unhygienic conditions at the site.During the raid, authorities seized around 110 kg of prepared fried chicken, six tins of loose cooking oil (15 litres each), and multiple packets of artificial chemical food colours. Two individuals alleged to be responsible for running the operation were apprehended.(With inputs from ANI)