Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Despite a ban on gutkha and flavoured tobacco in the state, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched a major crackdown over the past two days against those selling such products through illegal channels. Newly appointed commissioner Shridhar Dube Patil led a surprise drive across urban and rural areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, conducting raids on seven vendors. Goods worth lakhs were seized, the shops were sealed, and cases have been registered against all the accused.
The new commissioner has directed strict action against banned items such as adulterated food products, flavoured tobacco, pan masala, and gutkha. Acting on these instructions, authorities have begun identifying illegal sellers in the city and taking direct action against them.
Raids conducted at these seven locations:
Best Pan Shop (opposite Warehousing Corporation, Old Beed Bypass)
Khalil Pan Centre (Old Beed Bypass)
Changdev Dagdu Dubile (Sundarnagar, Bageshwarwadi)
Shaikh Subhan Banu (Baijipura, Indiranagar)
M/s R.R. Chicken Shop (Daulatabad)
Dhanlaxmi Pan Shop (MIDC Waluj)
Rafiq Haider Qureshi (Paithan)
Cases registered
Selling and storing banned food products is a serious offence. Accordingly, cases have been registered against all seven vendors at the respective police stations. Action has been taken under Sections 123, 223, 274, and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Team behind the operation
The drive was carried out under the guidance of FDA joint commissioner S.R. Karkale. The operation was led by assistant commissioners Vivek Patil and Dayanand Patil, along with food safety officers Varsha Rode, Sulakshana Jadhavar, Jyotsna Jadhav, Pragya Surse, and team members Prashant Ajinthekar, Prashant Kuchekar, Farid Siddiqui, and Kirtika Jhade.
“Gutkha is a banned product. Strict action will be taken against anyone found selling it. This drive will continue with greater intensity in the coming days.”
— Vivek Patil, assistant commissioner, Food and Drug Administration