Nagpur: Continuing its crackdown under ‘Operation Thunder – Let’s Build a Drug-Free Society’, the Sadar Police have booked and arrested a 25-year-old man for illegally manufacturing and selling banned tobacco-based products in the city.

According to police sources, around 12:20 pm on October 7, a patrol team from Sadar Police Stationreceived a tip-off about illegal activity near Itarsi Pulia, RBI Colony, Gondwana Chowk, Sadar. Acting on the information, police raided the spot and caught the accused, identified as Ajju Rajendraprasad Yadav (25), a resident of Vairamji Town, Khadan, red-handed while preparing and packing kharra (a mixture of scented tobacco and lime) using a machine.

During the raid, officials seized 15 kg of banned tobacco products and eight machines used for manufacturing, collectively worth about ₹2.55 lakh. The operation was carried out in the presence of Food Safety Officer Amarnath Yadav Sonatakke, who later lodged a formal complaint.

A case has been registered under Sections 123 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)along with Sections 26(1), 26(2)(iv), 3(1)(zz)(iv), 27(3)(E), 30(2)(A), and 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

The accused has been arrested, and further investigation is underway. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Nityanand Jha and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunita Meshram, led by PI Amol Deshmukh, with support from PSI Nilesh Ghogre and other team members.