Pune Rural Police Seize Gutkha Worth Over Rs 55 Lakh, Arrest One Person
Bhor, 25th June 2023: In a significant operation, the police in Kikvi Morwadi village, Taluka Bhor of Pune district, confiscated a substantial quantity of gutkha tobacco, valued at approximately Rs 55 lakh 79 thousand 600 rupees, from a parked tempo near an ongoing road construction site. One individual has been arrested in connection with the case.
Acting on a tip-off about a strong Gutkha odor emanating from the tempo, Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar of the Local Crime Branch, along with a team including Police Inspector Sachin Patil from Rajgad Police Station, Assistant Police Inspector Nitin Khamgal, and other officers, conducted a thorough examination.
During the inspection, a significant quantity of Gutkha was discovered in a white and twine bag. Ritvik Dashrath More, a 24-year-old resident of Morwadi in Bhor, who was present with the tempo, was detained and interrogated. It was revealed that the Gutkha belonged to R. Shivare and was being transported for sale to a buyer named Najim in Pune.
Further inspection of the tempo led to the discovery of two yellow number plates, bearing the numbers MH 07 AJ 2943 and MH 12 TV 8247.
The police seized Gutkha products, including Vimal, Rajnigandha, and aromatic tobacco and tempo, totally valued at Rs 73 lakh 85 thousand 400 rupees.
Ritvik Dashrath More, who was found with the tempo, has been arrested, while Sudhakar Pansare, Dinesh Pansare, and the buyer Najim have been booked.
ASI Hanumant Pasalkar of the Local Crime Branch has filed a complaint on behalf of the government, and Police Inspector Avinash Shilimkar is overseeing the ongoing investigation.
This incident comes in the wake of multiple seizures of Gutkha along the Pune Satara Highway, under the jurisdiction of Rajgad Police Station, in recent days.
However, due to limited space at Rajgad Police Station, concerns have arisen about where to store the seized Gutkha. Earlier, a portion of seized Gutkha went missing from a truck, but was subsequently recovered by the police.
