Oct 24, 2014

Tobacco traders fined

Imphal, October 22 2014: In a significant verdict against the selling of contraband articles injurious to health, the Adjudicating Officer (Food safety)/ADM, Imphal West Dr.Nivedita Lairelakpam awarded a penalty of fine amounting to Rs.1,05,000 (rupees one lakh five thousand) to seven persons from whom contraband chewable tobacco products were seized by a team of Imphal city police and Food Safety Officer Imphal west.
The seven persons, who have been accused of violating the provisions of section 58 of Food Safety and Standards Act. 2006, are Md. Sameer, son of Md. Yaima of Lilong makha Leikai; Aslam Khan son of Amu Khan of Kshetrigao Awang Leikai; Jaku Rai son of Ramghorosh Rai of Masjid Paona bazaar; Krishna Kumar son of Kedar Shah of Dewlaland; Ramesh Kumar@ Rakesh Kumar son of Netlal Prasad from Kakhulong Basti; Geet Sharma @ Sarma Nand Gupta son of Hansian Goh of Mantriprukhri, and Santosh Gupta son of Sheyaram Sha from Masjid Road paona Bazar.
In another ruling of the same nature, six persons namely Bindeshwar Prashad son of Jaganath Prasad of Masjid Road Imphal; Mukesh Kumar Shah son of (L) Jokhilal Saha of Paona bazaar; Suraj Kumar son of (L) Dindayal Prasad from Masjid Road; Rahul Kumar son of Jugal Shah of Kakhulong Basti; Prem kumar son of Srikant Sharma of Thangal bazaar and Prakash Gupta son of Om Prakash gupta from masjid Road Paona Bazar were also imposed a penalty amounting to Rs.30,000/- under the same act.
The court order issued today also instructed three other accused persons who failed to turn up for trial to deposit a fine of Rs.15,000 within seven days.
All the accused were instructed to deposit their penalty amounts to the relevant accounts of the Health department within seven days of the ruling.
It may be mentioned that there is complete ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation distribution, display, sale and purchase of Gutkha, Khaini, Zarda, Pan Mashala and other chewable smokerless tobacco products.