Adulterated tea worth 27 lakh seized; man held

Kadapa: Vigilance and enforcement officials on Tuesday arrested one Sk Ajmatullah of Rayachoti town in the district who is adulterating tea power and marketing it with the brand name of  Hyderabad-based, ‘Assam Tea Hyderabad Corporation.' They seized 437 bags each containing 30 kg tea worth 27 lakhs.

According to vigilance and enforcement circle inspector K Narasimha Raju, the accused who owned a godown at Masapaet in Rayachoti town, was manufacturing adulterated  tea powder without registration and marketing it in the surrounding towns at cheaper rates. 

The officer said that he was supplying his tea at Rs 100 for 500 gram pack as against the Rs 150 for original brand product. On noticing a steep fall in sales of his product in the market, the Hyderabad-based tea company’s owner K Prasad lodged a complaint with the vigilance and enforcement officials on Saturday. 

Following a tip-off, the officials conducted raids at the godown and  nabbed the accused. Ryachoti police registered a case against Ajmatullah under various sections of law.