States » WestPosted at: Sep 19 2026 7:44PM


Maha: FDA seizes banned gutka worth Rs 1.13 cr after 6-hour chase; MCOCA action proposed

Mumbai, Sep 19 (UNI) The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have seized banned gutka and flavoured tobacco products worth Rs 1.13 crore after a six-hour chase and interception of a truck at Chakan in Pune district, officials said today.
According to an FDA press note issued by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the operation was launched around 2 pm on September 18 following confidential information that a truck carrying prohibited gutka was travelling from Madhya Pradesh towards Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district via the Samruddhi Expressway.
The vehicle subsequently changed its route and proceeded towards Pune through Sangamner. Acting on the information, FDA teams were deployed along possible routes, with the Thane division team moving towards Murbad and the Pune division team positioned at Rajgurunagar.
At the Rajgurunagar Toll Plaza, Food Safety Officer Laxmikant Savale attempted to stop the truck by positioning his vehicle in its path. However, the driver allegedly failed to stop and continued driving.
Savale pursued the vehicle and, with assistance from local police, intercepted it at Chakan-Talegaon Chowk around 8 pm.
During the inspection, the FDA team found various brands of pan masala and flavoured tobacco products prohibited in Maharashtra.
The seized consignment included Rajnigandha Flavoured Pan Masala valued at Rs 29.95 lakh, Tansen Flavoured Pan Masala worth Rs 24.94 lakh, RMD Pan Masala worth Rs 26.40 lakh, Tulsi Royal Zafrani Zarda worth Rs 9.60 lakh and T O Premium Zarda worth Rs 2.64 lakh. The truck, bearing registration number MH 18 BZ 2350, was valued at Rs 20 lakh, taking the total value of the seizure to Rs 1,13,54,600.
The seizure formalities and other legal procedures continued throughout the night.
Around 10 am on Friday, a Food Safety Officer from Pune lodged a complaint at Chakan Police Station in Pimpri-Chinchwad against five persons under Sections 123, 223, 274, 275 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 26(2)(i), 26(2)(iv), 27(3)(e), 30(2)(a) and 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The accused have been identified as truck driver Nafis Mehboob Khan (40), a resident of Haryana; Nilesh Rathi of Khamgaon in Buldhana district; Arun Patil of Jalgaon; M/s J M D Enterprises, Dhule, the vehicle owner; and transporter Sanjay Mata of Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
The FDA said prima facie the case appeared to involve an organised and continuing illegal trade that posed a risk to public health.
It has requested the police to examine the previous criminal records of the accused, the supply chain and financial transactions involved in the case, and submit a proposal for stringent action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA), if the necessary legal grounds are established.
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Tags: #Maha: FDA seizes banned gutka worth Rs 1.13 cr after 6-hour chase; MCOCA action proposed
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