Hyderabadi Biryani Connoisseur To Murder: All About Mehboob Alam Khan

Advocate Moizuddin was killed in the early hours of May 23rd, 2026 in Masab Tank. Police said he had stepped out of his car for a routine swim when an SUV rammed into him and dragged him for about 200 metres. Moizuddin suffered grievous injuries and died later at Mahavir Hospital. Initially treated as a hit-and-run, the case took a turn after investigators alleged the involvement of the Khans.

At a press conference on Friday, Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar described it as a meticulously planned contract murder linked to long-standing Waqf land disputes between the deceased and the Alam Khan family. The case marks a dramatic turn for the 84-year-old nobleman who built his reputation as a custodian and kept Hyderabad’s culinary heritage alive.

It is well known that Alam Khan belongs to an aristocratic family and is part of the city’s old nobility. The family was among the leading industrialists in Hyderabad and owned prime properties across the city. The Khans owned the erstwhile Hyderabad Deccan Cigarette Factory, which produced the popular Golconda brand cigarettes for ITC in the past. Mahboob Alam Khan is also a noted educationist and is the director of the Anwar-uloom Educational Society, while his son Mujahid chairs the Golconda Educational Academy, which runs engineering, pharmacy, and nursing colleges.

For decades, Mehboob Alam Khan has been synonymous with Hyderabadi food. A connoisseur and culinary expert, he spent years researching and restoring lost recipes of the Hyderabadi tradition. He also works as a consultant for the Taj Group of Hotels and with the Telangana government for state dinners. When it comes to Hyderabadi cuisine, especially mutton biryani, he has been the most sought-after food consultant, appearing on Indian and international cooking shows, sharing his family's 100-year-old recipe, and delighting the audiences.

Several celebrities and chefs, including Australian chef Gary Mehigan, US model-author Padma Lakshmi, and Sanjeev Kapoor, have dined at Mehboob Alam Khan’s table and learnt about the recipes. He featured on Padma Lakshmi’s show and demonstrated the preparation of authentic Hyderabadi biryani. He is also credited with reviving some lost dishes of the Qutub Shahis and the Asaf Jahis.

The Alam Khan's family also runs a chain of restaurants serving authentic Hyderabadi food. His nephew, Qutub Alam Khan, owns Chicha’s, another well-known Hyderabadi restaurant at Lakdi ka pul. Alam Khan’s son and prime accused, Mujahid Alam Khan, is related to Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. Owaisi’s elder daughter is married to Mujahid’s brother.