Hyderabad, Oct. 2 (Maxim News): The Commissioner’s Task Force, Golconda Zone team, and Asif Nagar police raided an alleged illegal pan masala, gutkha and tobacco manufacturing unit in Muradnagar and arrested three workers while rescuing two children, police said.
The raid was conducted at premises No. 12-2-342, opposite Choti Masjid in Muradnagar, Asif Nagar, Hyderabad, based on credible information.
Police said the unit was allegedly manufacturing and packing unbranded AAA, Badshah and Sagar pan masala, gutkha and tobacco products without valid licences. The products were allegedly being manufactured on the directions of Zubair and Muzzaffer alias Dada and sold in Hyderabad.
The operation led to the seizure of a large quantity of raw tobacco and gutkha material, packing covers, finished sachets and manufacturing machinery. Police placed the total value of the seized property at approximately ₹50 lakh.
Police Seize Raw Tobacco and Packing Machinery
The arrested workers were identified as Rohit Kumar alias Rohit Yadav, 25, Saurabh alias Saurabh Chowhan, 20, and Matadeen alias Rahul Permer, 21. Police said all three were working at the unit and residing at the same premises.
Two other workers identified as children were also found at the unit and rescued, according to police.
The seized material included 100 unapproved AAA pan masala packets and another 50 AAA packets, with each packet containing 70 sachets.
Police also seized one 50-kg bag and one 10-kg bag of loose zarda. Fourteen bags containing raw materials such as katha, supari and chunna were also recovered.
The raid team seized 24 bags containing ready-mixed gutkha weighing about 60 kg, along with two bags containing 100 kg each of ready-mixed gutkha.
Another 11 bags were seized, with each bag containing 55 packets and each packet containing 75 sachets, police said.
The seized packing material included four Gold 9000 rolls, seven Badshah rolls, one Joker roll and two Sagar paper rolls. Ten Sagar sachets containing gutkha were also recovered.
The machinery included three gutkha packing machines, one gutkha mixer, one gutkha oven, one supari-cutting machine, one large weighing machine, two small weighing machines, one sealing machine and one bag-sewing machine.
Police alleged that the packets did not carry mandatory details, including the manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, MRP, ingredients and statutory warning.
The unit was also allegedly operating without valid FSSAI, GST and tobacco-related licences, police said.
According to the police, Zubair and Muzzaffer alias Dada were partners in the alleged illegal manufacturing operation. Muzzaffer was also described as the owner of the premises.
Police said Zubair was involved in manufacturing unbranded zarda, gutkha and tobacco products, while Muzzaffer was allegedly involved in the manufacturing operation and management of the premises. Both suspects were absconding.
Police further alleged that the operators knowingly manufactured and sold the products despite being aware of the health risks associated with gutkha and tobacco consumption.
The manufacturing activity allegedly created a noxious environment and health hazards for people in the surrounding area, amounting to public nuisance, police said.
Police also alleged that the engagement of children in the unit exposed them to the harmful environment of the manufacturing activity.
A case was registered at Asif Nagar Police Station in Crime No. 310/2026 under Sections 272 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 20(2) of the COTP Act, and Section 3 read with Section 14 of the Child Labour Act.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of Task Force Golconda Inspector M. Mahesh and Asif Nagar Inspector N. Anand, along with Sub-Inspectors K. Venkatraman and N. Naveen and their respective teams.
Police said further action would be taken in the case against the absconding suspects and in connection with the alleged illegal manufacturing and child labour.
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