Nashik: The local crime branch (LCB) launched an operation targeting banned gutka-scented tobacco dealers, following directives from superintendent of police (SP), Mummaka Sudarshan, to crack down on illegal trade across the district.
On Aug 29, the LCB teams raided six different locations across MIDC, Bhingar Camp, Karjat, and Rahuri police station limits. The crackdown resulted in six separate cases being registered against 15 individuals, with authorities seizing gutka worth Rs5.9 lakh. Two cases were registered with Ahilyanagar’s MIDC police station, in which banned tobacco worth Rs1.23 lakh was seized, and four people were booked. The Bhingar Camp police registered a case against three people and seized gutka worth Rs4.4 lakh. The Karjat police registered two cases against two people and recovered goods worth over Rs4,500, while the Rahuri police registered one case against two individuals, seizing banned tobacco products worth Rs23,000.
All raids were executed under BNS provisions, and police teams are actively searching for three to four suspects, who escaped during the raids.