Pune Police And FDA Seize Gutkha Worth ₹76 Lakh From Warehouse In Undri
Pune Police And FDA Seize Gutkha Worth ₹76 Lakh From Warehouse In Undri
Pune: In a joint operation, the Kalepadal Police Station and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune raided a warehouse in Undri’s Ghule Vasti and seized banned gutkha and flavored tobacco products worth ₹76,44,650. The police also confiscated four transport vehicles worth ₹1.2 crore used for illegal distribution.
Acting on confidential information received by FDA food safety officers, the police team raided a warehouse on Wadachiwadi Road, Undri, where they discovered a large stockpile of prohibited scented tobacco and pan masala gutkha inside multiple transport vehicles.
The primary accused, Sampatraj Pemaram Chauhan (38), a resident of Kondhwa, was arrested at the scene. Upon interrogation, authorities confirmed that he was storing and distributing banned gutkha products.
A case has been registered at Kalepadal Police Station under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The sections include IPC Sections 123, 274, 275, 223(3)(5), along with Food Safety and Standards Act provisions such as Section 26(2)(i), 26(2)(ii), 26(2)(iv), 27(3)(e), 30(2)(a), and Regulations 3.1.7, 2.3.4, and 59.
Ongoing Investigation
The case is being investigated under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajkumar Shinde, with Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dhanyakumar Godse, Senior Police Inspector Manasing Patil, and Inspector (Crime) Amar Kalange leading the probe alongwith Sub-Inspector Anil Nibalkar, Assistant Inspector Pravin Abdagire and constables Jadhav and Patil, and FDA food safety officers. Further investigations are underway to track down other individuals involved in the illegal trade.
