World · India Bureau
Four arrested in Medak for selling adulterated toddy; eight fall ill
Authorities in Telangana's Medak district have arrested four individuals following a crackdown on illegal toddy operations that left eight consumers showing signs of chemical contamination. Raids across multiple locations recovered over 180 undeclared bottles of the illicit product.
LSN India ·
Police in Medak district conducted coordinated raids on five toddy shops and a distribution depot located in the Burugupalli and Vaadi areas, resulting in the arrest of four suspects on charges related to the manufacture and sale of adulterated toddy. Two additional individuals remain at large in connection with the case.
During the enforcement operation, authorities seized 180 bottles of undeclared toddy that had not been registered with excise authorities. Preliminary investigations suggest the product had been adulterated with harmful substances, prompting health concerns among regular consumers.
Eight individuals who had consumed the adulterated toddy subsequently tested positive for benzocaine, a local anesthetic commonly used in illicit alcohol operations to mask quality defects. The affected consumers are reported to be receiving medical attention for their condition.
Toddy, a fermented beverage made from palm sap, remains a regulated product in India subject to excise taxation and quality standards. The illicit trade in adulterated toddy has long posed public health risks across South India, with authorities regularly conducting enforcement operations to curb illegal production and distribution networks.