Rajahmundry: A small town in West Godavari called Jangareddygudem is becoming a hub for manufacture and export of banned gutka products.
The police found a rented house being used for manufacture of gutka under the guise of making leaf plates ‘Vistrakulu’ and seized gutka,raw materials like tobacco, beetle nut, paan masala and other ingredients and machinery being used for making, mixing and packing gutka.
The seized material and machinery is worth about Rs 10 lakhs, informed police officials. Based on the preliminary inquiry, police found that one Yashoda Prasad took his younger brother Srinivas’ house on rental basis and started the illegal business. In order to cover up his illegal activity, he set up a cottage industry to make leaf plates and familiarised himself locally in making only leaf plates.
Subsequently, he purchased machinery for making gutka from Vijayawada and started procuring the raw material. He also obtained the plastic sachet rolls of popular gutka brands and started filling up the locally made gutka into such sachets and selling them as branded gutka products to the wholesalers. Yashoda Prasad was assisted by Karpuram Vasu.
The police took both the culprits into custody for questioning. The gutka sachets were also exported from Vijayawada and the police are investigating the destination of export.
The police are on the lookout for any branches being run or any other persons involving in similar activity in the town.
Jangareddygudem DSP J. Venkata Rao said, “We are trying to find out the involvement of one of the accused Yashoda Prasad’s younger brother Srinivas as he rented out the house, for the illegal activity.
"People in the locality were shocked on finding out that a house located near the RTC bus stand turned out to be a hub for manufacture and export of banned gutka. Assistant food controller R. Nageswaraiah said, “We have booked a case under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and Regulations, 2011. We will seize the stocks of gutka and raw material and produce it before adjudicating authority.”
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