Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Paithan MIDC police intercepted a vehicle illegally transporting gutkha on the Paithan–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar highway in Katpur shivar around 10 pm on Tuesday.
Gutkha worth over Rs 2.19 lakhs, hidden under grocery items, was seized and one person arrested. Assistant police inspector (PI) Ishwar Jagdale acted on a tip-off, stopping the vehicle driven by Nagesh Lande (Pategaon, Paithan). Lande claimed it carried only groceries, but inspection revealed banned gutkha beneath the goods. A case has been registered at Paithan MIDC police station. Lande was produced before the court on Wednesday and remanded to one day of police custody. The operation involved assistant PI Jagdale, police sub inspector Dashrath Burkul, and crime branch staff Krishna Ugle and Gudekar.