Story perspectives

Maharashtra FDA Seizes Rs 1.13 Crore Gutkha, Arrests Four

By Drooid · Sep 22, 2026, 12:04 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized banned gutkha worth Rs 1,13,54,600 after a six-hour chase.
Police and the FDA stopped the vehicle at Chakan-Talegaon Chowk around 8 pm on Friday.
Four people were arrested: driver Nafis Mehboob Khan, owners Nilesh Rathi, Arun Patil, and transporter Sanjay Mata.
The FDA filed a complaint under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and urged Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) action.

History

Historical Context

In July 2012 the Supreme Court of India upheld Maharashtra’s gutkha ban, confirming a 2003 prohibition and ordering seizure of about 1,000 tonnes with a Rs 10 crore penalty. The state FDA and police seized gutkha worth Rs 1,13,54,600 at Chakan-Talegaon, invoking MCOCA against Nilesh Rathi and Arun Patil. The move follows bans in over two dozen Indian states since 2012, signalling tighter anti-tobacco enforcement.

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Story summary

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration seized banned gutkha worth Rs 1,13,54,600 after a six-hour chase.
Police and the FDA stopped the vehicle at Chakan-Talegaon Chowk around 8 pm on Friday.
Four people were arrested: driver Nafis Mehboob Khan, owners Nilesh Rathi, Arun Patil, and transporter Sanjay Mata.
The FDA filed a complaint under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and urged Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) action.

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