Navi Mumbai: The central unit of the crime branch of Navi Mumbai police arrested five persons and seized banned Gutkha worth Rs 27 lakhs, a country-made pistol, and vehicles used for carrying the contraband. The seizure was made when Gutkha was being offloaded from one vehicle to another at sector 30 A in Vashi on the wee hours of September 18.

Officials at the crime branch received information on the night of September 17 that a history-sheeter identified as Karan Ram Salunke, 27, a Vashi Gaon resident had brought gutkha for selling in Navi Mumbai.

As per the information, the police reached a service road near Orrisa Bhawan at sector 30 A in Vashi and found banned gutka and flavored tobacco products packed in sacks was being offloaded from one vehicle to another. “The team immediately caught five of them. However, Salukhe taking benefit of the dark flee away flashing a pistol,” said NB Kolahatkar, senior police inspector of the crime branch.

The arrested were identified as Ajay Kumar Gaund, 33, a resident of Vashi and native of Uttar Pradesh; Govind Bodare, 44, a resident of Nasik, Ghevram Dewashi, 31, a resident of Vashi gaon; Akshay Gaikwad, 31, a resident of Mankhurd and native of Karnataka and Rahul Kumar 26, a resident of Uttar Pradesh.

They have were arrested under sections 307, 353, 188, 272, 273, 328, and 34 of IPC and relevant sections of the Food Safety Act, Arms Act, and Maharashtra police act.

Police said that two cases have already been registered against the main accused Salukne and they are trying to locate him. “The total recovery including vehicles and gutkha is worth Rs 79 lakhs,” added Kolahatkar.

ALSO READ

COVID-19: After India breaks world record, BJP leader JP Nadda slams opposition parties for...