Two held in Navi Mumbai with banned tobacco products worth Rs 9.6 lakh

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Police on Tuesday arrested two persons after seizing banned tobacco products valued at Rs 9.6 lakh from a tempo in Navi Mumbai township of Maharashtra, an official said, reported news agency PTI.

After receiving a tip, the police maintained vigil near Vashigaon on Panvel-Sion road, reported PTI.

At around 1 am on Tuesday, the tempo was spotted arriving there and was stopped for checking, the official from Vashi police station said.

Two held in Navi Mumbai: Police found pan masala and other tobacco items

The police found pan masala and other tobacco items of different brands packed in gunny bags and seized them, he said.

Two persons, aged 30 and 51, who were in the tempo were arrested. One of them hailed from Mumbra in Thane district and the other one belonged to Mawal in Pune, reported PTI.

Efforts were on to trace two more persons in connection with the offence, the official said.

Two held in Navi Mumbai: Case registered

A case was registered against the accused under Indian Penal Code sections 328 (causing hurt by means of poison, etc, with intent to commit an offense), 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) and provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.

The police were trying to find out from where the contraband was sourced and where it was being transported, the official said, reported PTI.

The sale and consumption of gutka, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012.

Two held in Navi Mumbai: Other incidents

In another incident, police have registered a case against 25 persons on charges of obscenity after raiding a restaurant-cum-bar in Maharashtra's Navi Mumbai township, an official said on Monday, reported PTI.

The raid was conducted on the intervening night of Sunday-Monday at the bar located in Khairne industrial area, he said.

During the operation, some women singers and customers were found indulging in obscenity, Turbhe police station's senior inspector Ravindra Daundkar said, reported PTI.

A case was registered against 12 women, three male waiters, eight customers and the establishment's owner and the manager under Indian Penal Code sections 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 34 (common intention), the police said.

(With inputs from PTI)