Hyderabad police bust illegal meat racket, store manager arrested

Hyderabad police busted an illegal meat storage racket in Mangalhat, seizing 12 tonnes of spoiled sheep and goat offal worth Rs 10 lakh. The store manager was arrested, while the owner remains absconding. Contaminated meat was allegedly supplied to hotels and events.

Hyderabad: In a major food safety crackdown, the Task Force (Golconda Zone), along with H-Fast and Mangalhat police, on Thursday busted an illegal meat storage and supply racket in Mangalhat and seized about 12 tonnes of stale and spoiled sheep and goat offal valued at Rs 10 lakh.

The raid was carried out at a store operating under the name “A to Z Sheep & Goat Offal” near Akbari Masjid in Aman Nagar Colony.

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Police arrested the store manager, Rafi Ahmed, while the owner, Mohd Afroz, is absconding.

According to officials, the suspect procured spoiled offal, including legs, head, brain, kidney, and liver of goats and sheep at low prices from wholesale markets and stored it for long periods in deep freezers and plastic tubs filled with stagnant water to mask decomposition and foul smell. The meat was then allegedly supplied to hotels, events, and functions as fresh produce, posing serious health risks.

Police said Afroz had previously faced action, including a GHMC fine and a prior criminal case. A fresh case has been booked against him. Efforts are on to nab the absconding suspect.