Gutkha unit unearthed; machines, goods worth Rs 1.5cr seized

Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) today unearthed a gutkha manufacturing unit near here and seized machines and sacks of gutkha collectively worth of Rs 1.5 crore, officials said.
A team of FDA raided a resort at Khadgaon, where it found the unit which was being used to make the tobacco-laced areca nut pieces for long.
Sale, manufacture and consumption of gutkha is banned in Maharashtra.
Dozens of officials of FDA (Vigilance) from Nanded, Aurangabad and Latur, led by Joint Commissioner Chandrakant Pawar, raided the resort and broke locks of three rooms.
They recovered machines and 118 sacks of gutkha, all valued at Rs 1.5 crore, the officials said.

Pawar said the resort is being run by one Manoj Bagdia, who did not turn up at the tourist facility despite repeated calls by the FDA officials.
A case would be filed against him under relevant laws, he said, adding FDA suspects more persons were involved in the murky business.