FDA seizes gutkha worth Rs2.78 L in 4 raids

In four separate raids, the food and drug administration (FDA), along with the police, raided four places in the city and seized gutkha and paan masala worth Rs2.78 lakh in two days. The raids were conducted in Swargate, Samarth, Hinjewadi and Warje-Malwadi police station jurisdictions.

In their first raid on Monday, the sleuths of FDA and Swargate police raided a paan shop and a general store and seized gutkha and paan masala worth Rs 24,720 and a case has been registered with the Swargate police station against the shop owners.

In the second case, gutkha worth Rs 1.65 lakh from one Rajesh Shosodiya, who was smuggling the banned stuff from neighbouring Madhya Pradesh to the city.

The raid was conducted on Monday and a case has been registered at Samarth Police station.

On the same day, gutkha and paan masala worth Rs 45,000 was seized from a shop in Hinjewadi and one Pavan Panchariya was arrested.

On Tuesday, the sleuths of FDA and Warje Malwadi polie raided a grocery shop in Warje area and seized gutkha worth Rs 43,000. A case has been registered against the proprietor of the shop, Dilip Bafna with Warje Malwadi police station.