Pune: MLA Shankar Jagtap Raises Alarm Over Illegal Gutkha Trade In Assembly; ₹239 Crore Seizures Reported In 2025
Pune: MLA Shankar Jagtap Raises Alarm Over Illegal Gutkha Trade In Assembly; ₹239 Crore Seizures Reported In 2025
Mumbai, February 24, 2026: Despite a statewide ban on gutkha and flavoured tobacco products, large-scale illegal production and sale continue across Maharashtra, according to disclosures made in the Legislative Assembly following a starred question by MLA Shankar Jagtap.
Responding to the question, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented data showing that over the past five years, police have registered 13,780 cases related to gutkha violations and arrested 18,501 accused. In 2025 alone, authorities seized contraband worth ₹239.10 crore.
The ban on gutkha, pan masala and flavoured tobacco has been in force in Maharashtra since July 20, 2012, with annual renewals prohibiting production, storage, distribution and transport. However, Jagtap alleged that illegal operations are ongoing in districts including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna, Nanded, Ahilyanagar and Nashik.
Major crackdowns have reportedly been conducted in Nashik and Thane districts. The government informed the House that action is being taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act and that enforcement efforts will continue.
Jagtap said strict implementation of the ban is essential to protect youth from addiction and asserted that he would continue to pursue the issue to ensure stronger ground-level action beyond official statistics.
