Hyderabad, January, 10, 2026: In a deeply troubling incident in Hyderabad, two men were caught extracting blood from live sheep and goats at a butcher’s shop in Keesara. Police seized around 130 packets of animal blood, which were misleadingly labelled as “human blood,” during a raid at the premises.
According to officials, the accused were identified as Sanjeev, a doctor, and Sonu, the caretaker of the shop. Investigators revealed that blood was drawn from around 30 live sheep and goats using vacutainer needles designed for human blood collection. Each blood packet contained approximately 750 ml and was allegedly sold for ₹5,000 per unit.
Investigators stated that the illegally collected blood was being supplied to a trading company in Kacheguda, where it was reportedly used for preparing blood agar plates.
Blood agar is widely used in microbiology laboratories to detect pathogens, identify bacteria, and perform antibiotic susceptibility testing.
According to a study, sheep blood is recommended for supplementation of agar media. Artificial culture media supplemented with 5% blood are commonly used for routine bacterial isolation, identification, and antibody screening. Sheep blood is preferred as it provides clearer haemolytic patterns and inhibits the growth of certain non-pathogenic organisms.
The study also noted that sheep and horse blood are difficult to obtain due to limited availability, and purchasing these blood products from commercial sources is often not feasible because of high costs.1
Although Keesara police did not initially register a case, they alerted the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Animal Husbandry Department. GHMC officials subsequently booked a case, seized the blood packets, and wrote to the district Collector of Medchal-Malkajgiri seeking further action.
Sources revealed that the duo had allegedly been illegally selling sheep and goat blood for nearly three years. Inspector A. Anjaneyulu stated that the raid was conducted at Sonu Chicken and Mutton Market in Rampally following a tip-off, leading to the exposure of the racket.
A senior GHMC veterinary official told The New Indian Express that 133 blood samples were found stored in a refrigerator during the inspection.
“All the samples were collected from live sheep and goats and preserved in blood sachets. This is a clear case of animal cruelty,” the official said.
The accused were prosecuted under Sections 521 and 539 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, and Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The shop was shut down by police and veterinary officials.
In a related development, a team from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), along with officials from the Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA), raided a residential complex near Kacheguda railway station on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
During the raid, officials seized empty blood bags meant for human use and cattle blood units. Authorities suspect a possible link between this operation and the cattle blood extraction racket uncovered in Keesara earlier in the week.
A senior CDSCO official told TNIE that the blood samples seized from the residence have been sent for laboratory testing.
“We found a laboratory setup inside the residence. The person involved is absconding, and investigations are ongoing to identify others linked to the operation,” the official said.
Officials reiterated that the seized blood was not intended for human transfusion, but was allegedly meant for laboratory use. Letters were submitted to the District Collector, the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and the State Animal Welfare Board for coordinated action.
1. Dilrukshi, G. N., U. N. Jayewardane, F. Sajidha, and D. M. B. T. Dissanayake. 2018. “Human, Cattle and Goat Blood as Substitutes for Sheep Blood in Blood-Supplemented Culture Media.” Sri Lankan Journal of Infectious Diseases 8 (1): 12–24. https://doi.org/10.4038/sljid.v8i1.8163
(Rh/VK/MSM)