The Income Tax Investigation Wing in Hyderabad carried out major raids on Tuesday at three of the city’s most popular biryani chains—Pista House, Shah Ghouse and Mehfil—over suspected large-scale tax evasion. Officials conducted searches at nearly 30 locations, including corporate offices, outlets and residences linked to the owners and management teams.
According to officials, the investigation focused on branch-wise accounts, digital transactions, sales records and franchise operations. Mehfil, which started in 2006 and now runs 15 branches in Hyderabad along with outlets in the UAE, has been expanding rapidly, especially through 2025. Pista House, founded in 1997 by Mohammad Abdul Mazeed, has grown into a global brand with 44 stores in India, the USA, UAE, Oman and Kuwait. It receives huge online orders and franchise-based business, especially during the Haleem season when sales jump to several crores. The brand is also known for high-profile visitors, including Bollywood actor Salman Khan. Shah Ghouse, which has strong footfall at its Gachibowli and Old City branches, also sees heavy business through food delivery platforms.
Officials said the teams are still analysing seized documents and digital data to confirm the extent of alleged tax evasion. Further action will depend on the financial discrepancies uncovered during the ongoing scrutiny.