Cockroach found in biryani ordered via Zomato in Hyderabad, customer demands action
Hyderabad: A man discovered a cockroach in his biryani after consuming half of the meal, prompting concerns about food safety in the city. The incident occurred at Sheel Kamal Restaurant, where Tarun Kasarla ordered Chicken Wings Biryani and Special Mutton Biryani through Zomato on the night of April 4, 2025.
Tarun Kasarla took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his experience, tagging the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and Zomato. He expressed his outrage and demanded strict action against the restaurant for serving unhygienic food.
@fssaiindia @GHMCOnline @Zomato
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!
I’m Tarun K. Ordered Chicken Wings Biryani & Special Mutton Biryani from Sheel Kamal Restaurant at 9:30 PM today — and found a COCKROACH in the Chicken Wings Biryani!
How can such unhygienic restaurants be allowed to operate? pic.twitter.com/p2LnkQQbVA
— Tarun Kasarla (@Tarun_Kasarla92) April 4, 2025
He wrote, “@fssaiindia @GHMCOnline @Zomato THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! I’m Tarun K. Ordered Chicken Wings Biryani & Special Mutton Biryani from Sheel Kamal Restaurant at 9:30 PM today — and found a COCKROACH in the Chicken Wings Biryani! How can such unhygienic restaurants be allowed to operate?” Tarun Kasarla called for immediate investigation and action.
In response, Zomato assured Tarun, saying, “Hey Tarun, that looks concerning. Please give us a bit, and we’ll look into this and get back to you with an update at the earliest.”
Hey Tarun, that looks concerning. Please give us a bit, and we’ll look into this and get back to you with an update at the earliest.
— Zomato Care (@zomatocare) April 4, 2025
Tarun Kasarla, however, insisted that apologies were insufficient and requested for stricter measures against such establishments.
This incident follows a similar case at Rail Coach Restaurant, located on Necklace Road, on March 17, 2025. Vijay, a customer dining with friends, found a cockroach in his biryani after consuming half of the meal. He recorded a video of the incident and filed a complaint with food safety authorities.
In another case, a customer found a cockroach floating in a mutton soup at the Arabian Mandi restaurant in Sainikpuri. Social activist Robin Zaccheus highlighted the issue on social media, adding that the restaurant owner was reportedly rude when confronted.
Further concerns were raised when a customer discovered a cockroach in a juice glass ordered through Swiggy from Gourmet Shawarma. GHMC responded promptly, assuring that the Food Safety team had been notified. Additionally, a group of customers at Madhuram Tiffins in KPHB found cockroaches in the chutney served with their tiffins. One of the customers, Daya Arjun, shared the incident on social media and raised concerns about sanitation in the restaurant's kitchen, noting the presence of a washroom there.
To report food safety concerns, citizens can contact the following:
• For the state:
Email: diripmtg@gmail.com | fssmutg@gmail.com
Call: 9100105795
Social Media: X & Instagram (@cfs_telangana)
• For GHMC Zone:
Email: foodsafetywing.ghmc@gmail.com
Call: 040-21111111
Social Media: X (@afcghmc)
