Kolhapur: The Kolhapur Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials have seized gutka and tobacco products worth Rs 2.23 lakh in as many as five raids conducted across the city in a fortnight.
They have also taken action against five culprits under Section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. According to FDA officials, under the Act, the concerned person can face a year's imprisonment and fine up to Rs 3 lakhs as transportation, distribution, storage and sale of gutka, aromatic pan masala and scented betel nut are banned in the state.
According to FDA officials, on November 17, a team stopped a van travelling in Hupari village and found gutka and scented tobacco being transported in the vehicle. The officials seized the material amounting to Rs 7,835 and arrested the driver — identified as Abhijeet Tamanna Boragi.
In another raid on November 22, a FDA raided a car passing on Pune-Bengaluru National Highway under the jurisdiction of Shiroli MIDC police station and seized scented tobacco and Gutka worth Rs 1.88 lakh. The officials arrested Anil Bansilal Jina who was driving the car.
The third raid was carried out at Pan shops in Hatkanangle and Tardal where officials seized Gutka and scented tobacco worth Rs 29,500 and have taken action against three pan shop owners.
Selling of gutka is banned in Maharashtra but there is no restriction on its sale in neighbouring state Karnataka. Kolhapur district is on the border of Karnataka and Goa states. The borders are porous and there are many routes through which anyone can enter the state.
Manufacturing and selling of Gutka is not banned in these states and banned tobacco products from these states enter Kolhapur district through this permeable border. The FDA officials suspect there is a chain of people operating to supply banned tobacco products from Karnataka into Maharashtra.
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