A protest erupted in Hyderabad last night after delivery partners demonstrated outside an online grocery store in Hastinapuram, alleging they were forced to deliver expired products to customers. The partners claimed that delivering expired items was causing problems for them with customers. They further alleged that when they questioned the store managers, their accounts were blocked.
Following the protest in front of the store, they lodged a complaint with the food safety department. Acting on the complaint, food safety officials conducted raids at the store and found 14 expired items. Police reached the spot and brought the situation under control, according to the ANI news agency.
Food Safety Official Hyderabad, Sunny, also said he received a complaint against the grocery delivery app Instamart, stating, "We received a complaint that there were expired products at the online grocery store, and we inspected the entire store. We found some expired products, and I have reported the matter to our higher officials. We will inform you about the action they will take."
The expired items found included ginger-garlic paste, mango fruit drinks, strawberry juice, chakki atta, paneer, and milk packets.
A social media post alleged that a clash broke out between Swiggy riders, who were supported by local Congress leaders, and Swiggy Instamart management.
Riders alleged that Swiggy Instamart was forcing them to deliver expired products to customers, and if any rider refused to deliver a product, his ID was blocked.
The delivery executives reportedly claimed that the store had been sending products that had expired nearly five months ago over the past few days. When they questioned the management, an argument reportedly broke out, following which their delivery IDs were allegedly blocked.
The delivery executives later lodged a complaint against the Swiggy Instamart management at the LB Nagar Police Station.