Tejas Navale
Pune, May 23, 2025: In a major crackdown on the illegal trade of banned substances, the Pune Crime Branch has unearthed a gutkha and pan masala smuggling racket operating under the cover of cloth transportation. Goods worth a staggering Rs 1.13 crore, including banned gutkha, cigarettes, a tempo, and a container, have been seized in this operation. The Fursungi Police have registered a case against six accused, two of whom have been arrested.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Ajinath Baban Dhumal (31), a resident of Keshavnagar, Manjari Budruk, and Madan Singh Chitto Ram (38), a native of Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, cases have been registered against Radhesham Babulal Verma and Daulatram Jangid, both residents of Mantarwadi; Mithun Navale from Ganesh Peth; and Nikhil Agarwal, owner of Maharashtra Freight Carriers Pvt. Ltd. and Chandrai Warehouse. A formal complaint in this regard has been lodged by Police Constable Prithviraj Kisan Pandule of Crime Branch Unit 5 at the Fursungi Police Station.
According to officials, several cloth warehouses operate along the Mantarwadi-Katraj road, where traders routinely import fabric from Gujarat and Rajasthan for storage. However, police received a tip-off suggesting that these warehouses were also being used as a front for smuggling banned gutkha, pan masala, and cigarettes.
Acting on this intelligence, a Crime Branch team conducted a raid around 6:30 pm on Monday (May 19) at a hotel located at Uruli Devachi near Mantarwadi junction. During the operation, the police detained driver Dhumal, who was found transporting the banned items in a tempo under the guise of delivering cloth.
Following this lead, the team also arrested container driver Madan Singh. The investigation then led to a raid at the nearby Chandrai Warehouse, allegedly used to store the smuggled gutkha and related materials. The police seized a large quantity of banned products from the premises, linking the warehouse directly to the racket.
In total, the Crime Branch has booked six individuals, including drivers, vehicle owners, and the warehouse manager and owner, under relevant sections. The seized contraband and vehicles are estimated to be worth Rs 1 crore 13 lakh 72 thousand 750.
