KOLHAPUR: Food and drug administration officials have in two days raided seven paan shops in the city and seized gutka (scented tobacco) worth Rs 72,565 from them.
The officials also lodged complaints at the Shahupuri police station on Tuesday against two of the shop owners from whom the gutka was seized and at Juna Rajwada police station on Wednesday against the remaining five.
The sale or hoarding of gutka is banned in Maharashtra and the FDA officials have stated that they will continue taking action against shops in the district that violate the law.
Assistant commissioner (food) of the FDA, Kolhapur, S N Deshpande said, "The two-day drive was part of our routine surprise check at paan shops in the city. The raids were conducted following information from sources. We have taken action against the paan seven shop owners under section 59 of Food Safety and Standards Act"
He added, "Now word has spread among the paan shop owners and they have become alert. So we have stopped our drive for some time. We will renew it after a few days and organize surprise raids at several places in the district at a time. We suspect that the gutka enters Kolhapur from Karnataka state and is sold on the sly. The shop owners sell the gutka only to a select customers they know. All these shop owners will be nabbed soon," he said.
Under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, those selling gutka can face a year's imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh.
Now word has spread among the paan shop owners and they have become alert. So we have stopped our drive for some time. We will renew it after a few days and organize surprise raids at several places in the district at a time. We suspect that the gutka enters Kolhapur from Karnataka state and is sold on the sly. The shop owners sell the gutka only to a select customers they know.
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