Hyderabad: To prevent rice suppliers from overcharging consumers, the Telangana Civil Supplies Department has intensified inspections across the state to ensure that rice millers and traders comply with the maximum retail prices (MRPs) fixed for three popular varieties of rice.
The department has fixed the MRP of BPT/KNM rice at ₹66 per kg, RNR/Telangana Sona at ₹74 per kg and HMT/JSR at ₹79 per kg. Millers and traders have been directed to prominently print the prescribed rates on all 26-kg packaged rice bags to ensure transparency and prevent overcharging.
Acting on the directions of Civil Supplies Commissioner and ex-officio Principal Secretary M Stephen Raveendra, the Enforcement Task Force (ETF) and the Legal Metrology Department conducted joint inspections during a week-long drive from October 29 to November 5, 2026.
During the drive, ETF teams conducted 1,141 surprise inspections at rice mills, wholesale outlets and retail shops and registered 55 cases, including 35 criminal cases, against violators. The Legal Metrology Department conducted 1,545 inspections across the State and booked 280 cases for various violations.
Officials detected several irregularities, including the sale of 25 kg of rice in bags labelled as containing 26 kg. They also found instances where traders covered the original manufacturer's prices with stickers displaying higher rates.
Other violations included hoarding rice meant for the Public Distribution System (PDS) and operating without Goods and Services Tax (GST) registration or Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licences.
The department is preparing to invoke the Preventive Detention (PD) Act against habitual offenders involved in PDS rice hoarding and market price manipulation. Violators may also face prosecution under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The department said inspections and surveillance would continue across Telangana to curb artificial scarcity, overpricing and illegal trading practices.