Pune Police Seize Gutkha Worth Rs 15 Crores In Silvassa; Biggest Action Against Suppliers – Claims Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta

Pune, January 8, 2021: Continuing the crackdown against Gutkha, Crime Branch of Pune city police has seized ‘Goa Gutkha’ and raw material worth Rs 15 crore from a manufacturer in Silvassa, the headquarters of Dadra and Nagar Haveli union territory.

Commissioner of Police Amitabh Gupta gave this information at a press conference today and said that it is the biggest action against Gutkha suppliers in the country. Joint Police commissioner Ravindra Shiswe and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Bachchan Singh were also present on the occasion.

On December 17 Pune Police had raided a godown in Chandanagar area and seized Gutkha worth Rs 7.5 lakh from Suresh Agarwal, Akshaya Suresh Agarwal, Akash Suresh Agarwal, Neeraj Mukesh Singal and Parveen Mukund Wahul. After the registration of the case, the Crime Branch Unit 4 team led by Police Inspector Rajneesh Nirmal investigated the case.

Later, the cops learnt the Gutkha racket was being financed through Hawala (illegal money transaction). Accordingly, nine people were arrested in the case and Rs 4 crore in cash was seized from them. Teams of Crime Branch Unit 4 and DCP (Zone 1) Priyanka Narnawre had raided five different places at the same time.

Then on January 2 this year, the Crime Branch had raided various hideouts in Hadapsar and Wanwadi and arrested four people and seized Gutkha worth Rs 25 lakh. After the inquiry, it was revealed that the Gutkha baron is based in Vapi in Gujarat and Silvassa. Gutkha is manufactured there in huge quantity and the arrested accused distributed them in various places.

On January 6, a team comprising Inspector Rajneesh Nirmal, Sub-Inspector Jaideep Patil, staff Rajas Shaikh, Sachin Dhawale, Kaustubh Jadhav and Sheetal Shinde under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner Laxman Borate was sent to Vapi and Silvassa. The team traced the factory ‘Kashi Venture’ with the help of informers.

After Gutkha production was verified there, Pune Crime Branch raided and seized ‘Goa Gutkha’ and raw materials used for its production. The owner and others managed to escape. But we have learnt their names and efforts are on to nab them, informed Police Commissioner Gupta.

The Crime Branch had also taken the help of the local police and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the raids.