Nagpur police seize banned tobacco, nylon manja worth Rs 1.5 lakh in two raids; two held

Tahsil police in Nagpur have taken two separate actions against the sale of banned tobacco products and nylon manja. According to police, two accused have been arrested and banned goods worth about Rs 1.5 lakh have been seized. Police are now looking for those who supply tobacco and nylon manja, as well as others linked to the illegal trade.

The first action concerned tobacco. The Tahsil police DB team was on patrol when it received a tip-off that Muzammil alias Kau Ahmed Wakil, a tenant in Iqbal Ansari's house near the Jamiat-ul-Ulama office in Kasabpura, was selling banned tobacco products. The information also said the accused had stored a large stock of tobacco.

Acting on the tip-off, police raided the premises. Muzammil was arrested and banned tobacco products were seized from there. During questioning, the accused told police he had bought the goods from Harshad alias Golu Sheikh, a resident of Hasanbagh.

Police then went to Harshad's house and raided it as well. Harshad was not present, but banned tobacco products worth about Rs 56,000 were recovered from his house. Police have learnt that goods worth about Rs 1.10 lakh in all were seized from the two tobacco locations.

A case has been registered at Tahsil police station on the complaint of Sheetal Deshpande, an inspector with the Food and Drug Administration. Police are now investigating where the banned tobacco was being supplied from and who else is involved in the trade.

The second action concerned nylon manja. Tahsil police received information that a man was coming to sell banned nylon manja near Gandhibagh Garden. Police laid a trap there and detained Waseem Akram Mohammad Ahmed, 33.

A search turned up 26 rolls of banned nylon manja in a plastic sack he was carrying. Police seized the manja and took action against the accused. They are now trying to find out where he got the nylon manja and what supply network lies behind it.

After the two actions, the investigation into the network linked to the sale of banned tobacco and nylon manja has been stepped up. Police are focused on reaching the source of these items and identifying others connected with the trade.