Navi Mumbai: The Anit-Narcotic Cell of Navi Mumbai police arrested a 20-year-old man and seized Gutkha worth Rs 20 lakh on Tuesday afternoon in Nerul. The man had stored Gutkha at his grocery shops to sell in the retail market. The sale and consumption of gutkha, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012.
Navi Mumbai police are paying special attention to contraband sell and consumption in the city and also creating awareness.
The Anti-Narcotic cell received information that Gutkha is being sold in Karave village in Nerul. Based on the information, the cell carried out a raid at a shop in Karave village on Tuesday afternoon and seized Gutkha worth Rs 20.46 lakh. The shop is located opposite Ganesh ground, Karave in Seawoods Nerul.
“We have received an information that a grocery shop known as Laxmi Kirana store stored large quantity Gutkha and flavoured pan masala. Based on the information, we conducted a raid and recovered different varieties of gutkha and pan masala, packed in sacks at his shops located at sector 36 in Nerul,” said an official from the Anti-Narcotic cell of Navi Mumbai police.
The arrested accused identified as Rajuram Devasi and he has been arrested under sections 188, 272, 273 and 328 of IPC and 26 and 27 of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.
