Pune: FDA Seizes rohibited Tobacco Products Worth Rs 35.16 Lakhs In Dehu Road Area
Dehu Road, 24th January 2024: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) carried out raids at two locations in the Pune district over the last two days, resulting in the seizure of prohibited tobacco products worth Rs. 35.16 lakhs. The FDA department has reported the registration of an FIR with the local police.
In the first raid on Tuesday (23rd January), conducted based on information about the storage and sale of prohibited substances at Dangat Patil’s warehouse in the Dehu Road area, products worth Rs. 23,68,580 were seized. Another raid at the residence of Riaz Aziz Shaikh in Dehu Cantonment, led to the seizure of banned substances valued at Rs. 11,48,341 today. FIRs have been registered in both cases at Dehu Road Police Station.
The operations were carried out by FDA Assistant Commissioner (Food) NR Sarkate, along with Food Safety Officers Sheetal Ghatol, Saili Tavre, Asmita Gaikwad, Rahul Khandagale, Balaji Shinde, and Prakash Kachve.
In the interest of public health and citizen well-being, the production, storage, distribution, and sale of tobacco products like gutkha, pan masala, aromatic tobacco, and aromatic betel nut have been banned in the state for one year, as per the order dated July 18, 2023. Pune Division Joint Commissioner (Food) AG Bhujbal has urged citizens to report any information about the sale of banned gutkha and pan masala by contacting the toll-free number 1800222365 provided by the administration.
