Gutkha, tobacco worth Rs.44 lakh seized in Maharashtra

Palghar: Gutkha and other tobacco products worth Rs 44 lakh have been seized in Palghar district of Maharashtra and four persons arrested in this connection, police said Thursday.

The police intercepted a tempo on Manor-Wada road on Monday and found around 50 gunny bags containing gutkha and various other tobacco items in the vehicle, police spokesman Hemant Katkar said.

The value of the banned goods was estimated to be around Rs 44 lakh, he



said. 

Four persons, including the tempo driver, cleaner and the vehicle owner, were arrested 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.