Nagpur: Acting on a tip-off, the Social Security Branch (SSB) of Nagpur Crime Branch carried out a successful raid at a godown in Jaripatka and seized banned flavoured tobacco and pan masala worth ₹1,25,073. The accused, identified as Ishwar Panjumal Budrani (44), resident of Nandlal Apartment, Baba Hardasani Galli, Jaripatka, was arrested for illegal possession and storage of prohibited tobacco products.

The raid took place around 2:30 pm on October 17, at the “Paragon” godown located near Chawla Chowk, Janata Hospital Road, Jaripatka. The police, acting on specific information, found large quantities of prohibited scented tobacco and pan masala of various brands and flavours stored for sale.

Investigation revealed that Budrani had stocked these banned items in violation of government orders, intending to sell them for personal profit. The seized goods were confiscated in the presence of witnesses.

Following a complaint by the Food Safety Officer, a case has been registered at Jaripatka Police Station under Sections 123, 223, 274, and 275 of the BNS, along with Sections 26(2)(i), 26(2)(iv), 27(3)(e), and 3(1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The accused has been taken into custody, and further investigation is underway.

The operation was executed under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Detection) Rahul Maknikar, and ACP (Crime Branch) Abhijeet Patil, by a team led by Rahul Shire and comprising API Shiwaji Nanaware, , PC Kunal Masram and others.