Thane: Banned tobacco products seized, two arrested

An official on Thursday said that the Wagle Estate police in the city has seized gutka or scented tobacco mix and other banned tobacco products worth Rs 40,000 and arrested two men, reported news agency PTI.

A police team intercepted a tempo on Wednesday night and found that it was transporting banned tobacco products of different brands, he said.

Tempo driver Ayush Chotelal Nigam (22) and Shivam Sitaram Nigam (22) were arrested under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence), 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 275 (sale of noxious food or drink), reported PTI.

Police are looking for a person named Anand Jaiswal who was allegedly connected to the illegal supply and sale of these banned substances.

Palghar: Banned gutka, tobacco products of Rs 6.32 lakh seized

In March, the police had seized banned gutka and tobacco products valued at Rs 6.32 lakh from a tempo on a highway in Maharashtra`s Palghar district, reported news agency PTI.

Based on a tip, the police maintained surveillance in Ghol village at Charoti toll naka in Dahanu area and spotted the tempo passing through Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, reported PTI.

The tempo was stopped and during checking, different brands of gutka and tobacco products of Rs 6,32,900 were seized, the official from Kasa police station said, reported PTI.

The vehicle was also impounded and a case was registered against its driver and helper under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Gutka worth Rs 2.21 lakh seized; one held

In February, a police official said that the police have seized banned gutka worth Rs 2.21 lakh from a building in Maharashtra`s Thane city and arrested one person for illegally storing the substance, reported news agency PTI.

Based on a tip-off, a police team raided a room in a building in Ambewadi at Wagle Estate and discovered a stock of gutka stored on the premises, the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI.

He said the team arrested Mohammad Nadeem Mohammad Fahim Mansuri (22) for alleged illegal storage and sale of the banned substance, reported PTI.

The official said a case has been registered under sections 123 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit a crime), 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), and 275 (sale of noxious food or drink) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

(With inputs from PTI)

This article first appeared on Mid Day