Hyderabad Police’s Commissioner’s Task Force, in coordination with the H‑FAST (Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team) and local police, have uncovered and dismantled a large‑scale illegal coconut powder manufacturing and repackaging racket in Begum Bazar. A 31‑year‑old trader, Nakoul Marotiyaa, has been arrested after police seized 8,300 kg of adulterated coconut powder, packing and weighing machines, and packaging materials with an estimated value of ₹21 lakh.
Investigators allege the accused sourced low‑quality loose coconut powder from outside the state, repackaged it under a branded label without necessary licences, expiry dates or food safety certifications, and sold it to unsuspecting customers a practice that officials said posed significant public health risks. A case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act has been registered and further investigation is ongoing.
Illegal Coconut Powder Racket Exposed
The raid took place on 25 March 2026 at a premises in Begum Bazar, near Swastik Mirchi Store, operated under the name “Balaji Purushotham Coconut Business Shop”. Police teams led by the Commissioner’s Task Force (Golconda and Khairtabad zones), along with the H‑FAST unit and Goshamahal Police, launched the operation following credible intelligence about an illegal food manufacturing setup.
According to police, the accused was procuring low‑rank coconut powder from Karnataka at cheap rates and repackaging it into branded “Chetak” packets without required regulatory clearances. The products lacked crucial food safety information, including batch numbers, manufacture and expiry dates, and did not carry a valid FSSAI licence, police said.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) Ande Srinivasa Rao and other senior officials overseeing the operation stated that such illegal activities were not merely commercial offences but posed serious health risks to consumers.
“Products sold without food safety certification or labels cannot be verified for quality and can be hazardous,” a senior officer said during a briefing. Investigators pointed out that consumers purchasing such products are often unaware of the risks they are exposed to, including potential contamination or adulteration that can result from unhygienic storage and manufacturing practices.
During the raid, police seized:
- 8,300 kg of coconut powder ready for sale or packaging
- Three packing/sealing machines and three weighing machines
- Over 400 packing covers (200‑gram capacity)
The total estimated value of the seized goods and equipment was pegged at around ₹21 lakh, police officials confirmed.
Authorities have recorded the case at Goshamahal Police Station, citing sections under 318(4) (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 274 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as Section 57(ii) of the Food Safety and Standards Act reflecting the gravity of both consumer fraud and failure to adhere to prescribed food safety standards.
Food Adulteration and Enforcement in Hyderabad
This latest bust is part of a broader campaign by Hyderabad authorities to tackle food adulteration and illegal manufacturing that has plagued parts of the city. In the past few weeks and months, multiple operations have uncovered unlicensed or unhygienic food units producing contaminated or unsafe food items, ranging from adulterated ginger‑garlic paste and rotten dairy products to unsafe snack foods. This has prompted a more structured enforcement response.
To strengthen responses to such public health threats, Hyderabad Police launched the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H‑FAST) under the leadership of the city’s police commissioner. This specialised unit, comprised of 28 personnel including inspectors and sub‑inspectors, works with food safety officials to identify, raid, and dismantle illegal and unsafe food manufacturing operations. Authorities have also rolled out a toll‑free number for public reporting of adulteration or unsafe food practices encouraging citizens to participate in safeguarding community health.
Officials emphasise that the scale of recent raids including this coconut powder operation underscores the prevalence of unregulated or non‑compliant food units in urban markets. Many such units operate without proper licensing, use substandard ingredients, and employ unhygienic methods that can jeopardise consumer health. “It is essential for consumers to verify licences, check packaging details, and report irregularities,” said one food safety officer.
Experts’ Advice on Food Safety
Food safety experts advise consumers to always check for FSSAI licences, batch numbers, and expiry dates before purchasing packaged products. They also recommend storing coconut powder and other dry food products in airtight containers and avoiding unbranded or unusually cheap items from informal markets.
Regular awareness and vigilance can help prevent consumption of adulterated or unsafe products, reducing health risks such as gastrointestinal infections or contamination-related illnesses.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The bust of this illegal coconut powder racket highlights a persistent public health challenge that goes beyond a single enforcement action: the ease with which unsafe products can enter everyday supply chains and reach households without detection.
While law enforcement agencies deserve credit for crackdowns and prosecutions, the underlying issue reflects gaps in regulatory oversight, consumer awareness, and accountability in food manufacturing. This is not merely a legal issue it’s a matter of public safety and ethical commerce. When businesses prioritise profit over safety, entire communities suffer the consequences.
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