Navi Mumbai: In a major crackdown on the illegal sale of banned tobacco products, the NRI Police in Navi Mumbai raided a residence in Karave village on Tuesday and seized a stockpile of gutkha, pan masala, and scented tobacco worth Rs 5.35 lakh. One person, Mahesh Shambhapu Soni (27), was arrested during the operation.
The raid was conducted based on a tip-off that Soni, a resident of Room No. 202 in Moreswar Apartment, Karave village, was storing large quantities of banned tobacco-based products.
Acting on the information, a police team led by Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Dhage and guided by Senior Police Inspector Sunil Kadam conducted the operation around 11:30 AM.
Upon searching the premises, the police discovered gutkha and other prohibited substances stored in violation of Maharashtra’s public health regulations. The entire stock, valued at over Rs 5.35 lakh, was seized on the spot.
Soni has been booked under Sections 123, 274, and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 26, 27, and 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. He was taken into custody, and investigations are underway to determine the source of the banned products and any potential links to a wider distribution network.
