Banned scented tobacco worth Rs 1.72 lakh seized from house in Bhadravati, case against three

Police in Bhadravati town of Chandrapur district raided a house in Gautam Nagar on October 18, 2026. Banned scented tobacco and material for making kharra were seized from the house. According to police, goods worth Rs 1,72,086 were recovered.

A case has been registered at Bhadravati police station against three people, including house owner Atul Kolhe, under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the food safety law. Police said three people, including one main accused, were caught red-handed in a case of illegally stocking banned tobacco.

According to police, a Bhadravati police station team was on patrol in the area on Sunday, October 18, 2026, between 12.30 pm and 1 pm. They then received reliable information from an informant that Atul Kolhe of Gautam Nagar had illegally stored banned scented tobacco and other banned food items in his house for sale.

Acting on the tip, police raided Kolhe's house in the presence of panch witnesses. Police saw a few young men on the back bedroom on the first floor, near a wooden furniture shelf, grinding khaini or kharra by mixing banned tobacco, areca nut and lime.

Questioned at the spot, those caught gave their names as Aniket Vinod Dongre (23, Hanuman Nagar, Pandav Ward, Bhadravati), Deepak Sunil Kusnake (25, Piparbodi, Bhadravati tehsil) and Yash Maroti Dupare (19, Chandika Ward, Bhadravati). Police are searching for the house owner, Atul Kolhe (Gautam Nagar, Bhadravati), as the main accused. The report does not mention his arrest.

A detailed search of the house turned up packets of Vimal pan masala weighing 99 grams, V1 Tobacco King packs, and 128 packets of scented tobacco in all, each weighing about 500 grams, in lots of 20 packets. Two sacks of katha and areca nut of 20 kg each, lime used for grinding kharra and plastic bags were also recovered. The seized goods together were worth Rs 1,72,086.

During the action, police destroyed 5 kg of lime and half a kg of plastic on the spot in the presence of panch witnesses. The rest of the goods were seized and brought to the police station along with the accused.

Police said the accused violated an order of the Food Safety Commissioner by stocking and selling banned scented tobacco without permission. Police said such substances cause cancer, oral disease and harm to reproduction, yet the accused were playing with the lives of others for monetary gain.

The case has been registered at Bhadravati police station under sections 223, 275, 49 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Police head constable Petras Sidam is investigating the case further.