Pune Police Seize Gutkha Valued at ₹20.70 Lakh from Warehouse in Yerwada
Yerwada
In a raid at a warehouse in Yerwada, Pune’s crime branch seizes banned gutkha worth ₹20.70 lakh, reportedly procured from Karnataka and stored illegally.
Pune November 25, 2025- A major haul of banned gutkha products was uncovered by the crime branch of Pune police during a raid in Yerwada, yielding nearly ₹20.70 lakh worth of contraband. Officials say the stock was stored in a warehouse behind Ved Provision Stores in Naik Nagar, Yerwada and traced to a consignment that arrived from Karnataka. According to the Pune Crime Branch, the operation was carried out by the Anti-Narcotics Squad 2 under Inspector Sudarshan Gaikwad and Assistant Inspector Nitinkumar Naik, acting on intelligence about illegal tobacco products hidden in the city. The accused, a 25-year-old resident of Naik Nagar identified as Jamanaram alias Ganesh Balram Jat, was arrested during the raid. Authorities discovered a large volume of gutkha packets packaged and ready for distribution within Maharashtra. Despite the ban on manufacture and distribution of such products in the state, raids such as this reveal how supply chains continue to exploit routes from other states.
The police report states the consignment had travelled from Karnataka and was stored locally to meet local demand. This raises questions about cross-state coordination in enforcement of the ban. The case has been registered at Yerwada Police Station under the relevant provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), the Food Safety and Standards Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code. Officials say thorough tracking of the stock movement is underway to trace all persons involved in distribution. They also mentioned that logistics vehicles and storage units are part of the investigation.
Pune’s law enforcement has intensified operations against such trade recently, with multiple seizures in recent months showing a pattern of smuggling, storage and local redistribution of banned tobacco products. In addition to the legal implications, these raids reflect public health concerns since these banned products often evade quality checks and taxation frameworks. Residents in Naik Nagar and adjoining localities told local media that the warehouse had seemed innocuous, making the discovery surprising. The police stressed that the presence of such large stocks shows the need for ongoing vigilance by municipal, police and regulatory agencies.
Enforcement officials noted that even though the ban has been in place for some time, underground networks continue to exploit storage facilities and transport routes. The Pune Crime Branch emphasised that suppression of such illegal supply is essential to maintain public health standards, ensure fair market practices and uphold the law. This seizure is expected to send a strong message to traffickers that cross-state smuggling and warehousing of banned goods will be met with strict action.
As the investigation proceeds, police are seeking cooperation from Karnataka authorities and other agencies to trace the origin of the consignment and identify broader networks. For citizens, the raid may offer reassurance that local authorities are taking enforcement seriously. However, specialists say long-term success will depend not only on seizures but also on disrupting financial flows, identifying logistics chains and promoting awareness about the risks of such illegal products. The Yerwada raid marks one of the larger seizures in recent weeks in Pune, underlining the importance of coordinated action among law-enforcement, regulatory and health agencies to curb the illegal trade in banned products.
