Hyderabad Task Force busts stale seafood racket, arrests four

The Hyderabad Commissioner's Task Force and Mangalhat Police arrested four persons after busting an alleged racket that preserved stale fish and prawns using chemicals. Around 262 kg of seafood and other materials worth Rs 90,000 were seized during the raid

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force (Golconda), in coordination with the Mangalhat Police, busted an illegal racket involved in preserving and selling stale fish and prawns using chemicals during a raid at Tara Fisheries in Machipura Baitak, Mangalhat, on Wednesday.

The police seized 100 kg of prawns, 162 kg of fish, six bags of salt and 10 kg of sodium bicarbonate powder, collectively worth around Rs 90,000, from the premises.

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Four persons were arrested during the raid. The arrested persons were identified as Shankar Singh, owner of Tara Fisheries; Mann Singh, who assisted in running the business; Gulab Singh, a worker; and Rohit Singh, who had rented out the premises where the illegal activity was being carried out.

According to the police, Shankar Singh procured fish and prawns at low prices from the Begum Bazar fish market and stored them in unhygienic conditions. The seafood was allegedly preserved for long periods in deep freezers and plastic tubs containing stagnant water. Police alleged that sodium bicarbonate powder was used to delay decomposition and suppress the foul smell.

The gang allegedly supplied the stale seafood to hotels, marriage functions and other events, passing it off as fresh and fit for consumption, police said.

A case has been registered and further investigation is in progress.