Gutkha worth Rs 11.96 lakh seized in Maha; 2 held

Maharashtra police on Monday seized gutkha worth over Rs 11 lakh and arrested two persons in this connection from Palghar district. The duo, a tempo driver and cleaner, were booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Food Safety and Standards Act. The sale and consumption of gutkha and pan masala was banned in Maharashtra in 2012.

Palghar:Gutkha worth over Rs 11 lakh was seized from Palghar district in Maharashtra and two persons were arrested in this connection, police said on Tuesday.

A police team intercepted a tempo on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway near Amboli village here on Monday and found gutkha worth Rs 11.96 lakh being carried in the vehicle, police spokesperson Hemant Katkar said.

The tempo driver and cleaner, both hailing from Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district, were arrested following the seizure and booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal
Code and the Food Safety and Standards Act, he said.

The sale and consumption of gutkha and pan masala was banned in Maharashtra in 2012.

The state government last year announced that sale of gutkha would be made a non-bailable offence.