The Income Tax Investigation Wing in Hyderabad conducted raids across major biryani points in the city. Officials targeted three well-known biryani chains on suspicion of large-scale tax evasion. The operation covered multiple areas and focused on tracing unreported income.
Teams searched the offices and houses of the owners of Pista House, Shah Ghouse and Mehfil. These biryani joints regularly appear in lists of top places in Hyderabad. They have also won several best biryani awards in the city.
Searches were carried out at 30 locations. Mehfil, which began operations in 2006, now has 15 outlets and one branch in the United Arab Emirates. The brand continued expanding through 2025, adding more restaurants in the city.
Pista House, started by Mohammad Abdul Mazeed in 1997, now operates 44 branches across India, the USA, the UAE, Oman and Kuwait. It is headquartered in Shah Ali Banda and runs outlets across Hyderabad and Rangareddy. It records heavy online sales and franchise activity, especially during the haleem season.
The brand is so popular that actors like Salman Khan have visited its outlets. Raids also took place at Shah Ghouse restaurants in Gachibowli and Old City. Officials said the chain earns strong revenue through food-aggregator platforms.
Authorities examined financial records, branch-wise accounts and other documents. The scrutiny continues as teams verify large volumes of transactions.
