Pune: In a joint operation, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Kalepadal Police seized prohibited gutkha worth ₹64 lakh and four pickup vehicles worth ₹12 lakh, amounting to a total seizure of ₹74,44,650.

In this case, Sampatraj Pemaraj Chauhan (38, resident of Kondhwa, Pune) has been arrested. Food Safety Officer Vijaykumar Ambadas Unawane has filed a complaint at Kalepadal Police Station.

Acting on a tip-off, food safety officers and police raided a godown on Vadachiwadi Road, Ghule Vasti, Undri. They found a stockpile of flavored tobacco and pan masala gutkha stored in goods vehicles. Chauhan was taken into custody and interrogated. Prohibited gutkha worth ₹64.44 lakh and four pickup vehicles worth ₹12 lakh were confiscated from the godown.

A case has been registered against Chauhan under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Further investigation is being conducted by Police Sub-Inspector Anil Nimbalkar.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajkumar Shinde, with instructions from Assistant Commissioner of Police Dhanyakumar Godse and Senior Police Inspector Manasing Patil. Police Inspector Amar Kalange, Assistant Police Inspector Pravin Abdagire, constables Jadhav and Patil, along with Food Safety Officers and their team, played a key role in the operation.