22 October,2023 03:44 PM IST | Navi Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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On Sunday, police in Navi Mumbai township confiscated prohibited gutka and tobacco products valued at Rs 7.39 lakhs, following a raid conducted in an Airoli apartment around 1 am. An official from the Rabale police station reported the arrest of one individual in connection with the operation.
Subsequent to the raid, law enforcement authorities confiscated an assortment of gutka and tobacco products from various brands. A case was registered against the accused, invoking provisions of the Indian Penal Code and regulations set forth by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Authorities are actively investigating the origins of the seized stock, seeking to ascertain the source. Notably, the sale and consumption of gutka, scented, and flavoured tobacco has remained prohibited in Maharashtra since 2012.
In another recent incident, police in Mumbai seized nearly Rs 16 lakh worth of gutka, a banned product, from a tempo and apprehended one individual in connection with the case, according to an official. Acting on a tip-off, the police established an operation and intercepted the tempo at Pramila Nagar in the Dahisar area on Saturday, as reported by the official from the MHB police station.
The police successfully confiscated the illegal gutka and arrested a 31-year-old man, with the vehicle being impounded, the official mentioned. Additionally, efforts are underway to locate three other associates linked to the accused, the official noted.
The arrested individual has a history of multiple criminal cases. In the present case, the accused has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 328 (causing harm by administering poison with intent to commit an offence), along with provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, as per the police statement.
It's important to note that the sale and consumption of gutka, scented, and flavoured tobacco has been prohibited in Maharashtra since 2012.
Meanwhile, a gang that allegedly sold babies to needy couples has been dismantled here with the arrest of five persons from Mumbai and one from Nashik. Last month, the gang allegedly kidnapped a two-year-old girl from Malad in Mumbai and took her to Malwani and later Nashik where they intended to sell her for Rs 2 lakh, an official from Kurar police station said. As the deal fell through, they returned to Mumbai and left the girl at Dadar railway station, he said.
The arrested accused have been identified as Irfan Khan (26), Salauddin Sayyed (23), Adil Khan (19), Taukeer Sayyed (26), and Raza Sheikh, all apprehended in Mumbai, and Samadhan Jagtap, arrested in Nashik.
