Pune: FDA Seizes ₹21.11 Lakh Worth of Banned Gutkha and Tobacco Products in Pimpri-Chinchwad; MCOCA Action Proposed Against Four Accused
Pune: FDA Seizes ₹21.11 Lakh Worth of Banned Gutkha and Tobacco Products in Pimpri-Chinchwad; MCOCA Action Proposed Against Four Accused
Pimpri-Chinchwad, June 21, 2026: In a major crackdown on the illegal trade of banned tobacco products, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized prohibited gutkha, pan masala and flavoured tobacco worth ₹21.11 lakh in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Cases have been registered against four individuals, and a proposal for action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) has been forwarded to the police.
Acting on the directions of Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, an FDA team conducted a raid at around 9 pm on June 19 near Gurudwara Chowk in Akurdi. During the operation, officials inspected vehicles parked in an open area and discovered a large stock of gutkha, pan masala and flavoured tobacco products, all of which are prohibited in Maharashtra.
The raid resulted in the seizure of banned products valued at ₹12.35 lakh. Authorities also confiscated a Tata Intra V10 tempo, a Maruti SX4 car, a Suzuki Burgman scooter and a Vivo Y19 (5G) mobile phone. The combined value of the seized vehicles and mobile phone is estimated at ₹8.76 lakh, taking the total value of the seizure to ₹21.11 lakh.
The FDA has initiated legal proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Investigators are also probing the larger network involved in the storage, transportation and distribution of the banned products.
On the same day, the FDA carried out a separate operation in Indapur, where prohibited pan masala and tobacco products worth ₹2.41 lakh were seized. The shop involved in the illegal trade has been sealed.
The Food and Drug Administration has warned that its crackdown on gutkha mafias across Maharashtra will be intensified. Officials stated that strict action will be taken against individuals involved in the illegal storage, transportation and sale of banned tobacco products.
