Maharashtra Tightens Crackdown on Gutka, Over 700 FIRs Lead to MCOCA Action
Maharashtra Tightens Crackdown on Gutka, Over 700 FIRs Lead to MCOCA Action
In a significant escalation of its crackdown on the banned gutka trade, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against individuals involved in the illegal manufacture, transportation and distribution of gutka. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the action is aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks operating across the state.
Speaking in an interview, Mundhe said gutka has been banned in Maharashtra since 2004 under Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. He explained that once a product is prohibited, every activity related to it, including manufacturing, storage, transportation and sale, is illegal.
According to Mundhe, investigations revealed that the illegal gutka business is not the work of isolated individuals but an organised network involving manufacturers, transporters, distributors and retailers. This, he said, prompted the FDA to invoke MCOCA, a law generally used to combat organised crime and terrorist syndicates.
He noted that MCOCA can be applied when multiple people are engaged in continuous criminal activities as part of a coordinated network. The law carries stricter penalties, including longer prison terms, making it a stronger legal tool than routine regulatory action.
Mundhe revealed that the FDA has already registered more than 700 FIRs related to gutka violations across Maharashtra. These cases have helped establish a legal basis for invoking MCOCA against those involved in the illegal trade.
The commissioner said the FDA is preparing detailed dossiers on every individual connected to the supply chain, from manufacturers and transporters to distributors and sellers. He added that the objective is to eliminate the banned substance from the state and ensure that every person involved is brought to justice.
Describing the campaign as part of a wider enforcement drive, Mundhe said the FDA is also intensifying action against spurious drugs, food safety violations in hotels and restaurants, and other offences affecting public health. He acknowledged that weak implementation of food safety laws in the past had allowed illegal businesses to thrive, but said the department is now adopting a stricter enforcement approach across all regulated sectors.
Highlighting the scale of the challenge, Mundhe said Maharashtra has more than 11 lakh registered food business operators. While most businesses comply with regulations, illegal operators continue to function through organised networks. He said the latest action sends a clear message that the state will take stringent legal action against those involved in the banned gutka trade.
