Three traders fined for storing banned gutka

Three local traders were Friday fined Rs.100,000 each, the highest penalty levied so far in Himachal Pradesh, for storing banned tobacco-based products, an official said.

Shimla Municipal Corporation health official Omesh Bharti fined the traders after over 300 kg gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala were seized from them.

They have been fined under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006.

The government Oct 2 last year imposed a complete ban in the state on the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco-based products.