Pune Police have cracked down on a gutkha smuggling racket and seized banned tobacco products worth Rs 22.91 lakh that were allegedly brought from Gujarat for illegal sale.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the case, and offences have been registered against them under multiple laws.
Tip-Off Leads to Bus Interception Near Navale Bridge
According to police, a team from Narhe Police Station was patrolling the area when Police Constable Deva Chavan received information that a travel bus was transporting banned gutkha products. Acting on the tip-off, a team led by Senior Police Inspector Varsha Deshmukh, Police Inspector (Crime) Ishwar Chavan, Police Sub-Inspector Vijaysingh Ghadge and other officers laid a trap near Navale Bridge and intercepted the bus.
Banned Products Worth Rs 5.90 Lakh Recovered
During the search, police recovered banned products worth Rs 5.90 lakh, from a bus operated by Habas Mubarak Khan (34), a resident of Barmer in Rajasthan. Police also detained Sohail Aslam Mulani (22), a resident of Ganj Peth in Pune, who had allegedly arrived to receive the consignment.
Warehouse Raid Uncovers Additional Stock
Further investigation led police to a warehouse in Kedarinagar, where a raid resulted in the seizure of an additional stock of banned gutkha and tobacco products worth Rs 17.00 lakh. Police said the accused admitted that the consignment had been brought from Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
Total Seizure Crosses Rs 22.91 Lakh
In total, banned tobacco products worth Rs 22,91,534 were seized during the operation. A case has been registered at Narhe Police Station under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), and the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Further investigation is being carried out by Police Sub-Inspector Vijaysingh Ghadge.