Gutkha, soyabean oil worth ₹4.78 crore seized in Maharashtra FDA operations

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized goods and vehicles worth nearly ₹4.78 crore in two separate operations in Palghar-Thane and Buldhana on September 28, including banned gutkha and tobacco products and a large stock of refined soyabean oil suspected to be substandard.

In the first operation, FDA teams seized banned gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco along with two trucks, collectively valued at ₹1.26 crore, following interceptions in Palghar and Thane districts. The operation began after the FDA received information that two trucks carrying banned products were travelling from Palghar towards Bhiwandi.

According to the FDA, a special squad intercepted the first truck shortly after it crossed Charoti Toll Plaza at 7.04 a.m. A search allegedly yielded banned gutkha and tobacco products worth more than ₹50 lakh. The driver was taken into custody.

The driver of a second truck, which was following some distance behind, allegedly made a U-turn at Achad Naka in Palghar after the first vehicle was intercepted and fled towards Gujarat. The FDA later received information that the vehicle would attempt to reach Bhiwandi through the Nashik-Kasara route, following which another team was sent towards Kasara Ghat. The truck was intercepted within Kasara police limits at around 12.45 p.m.

The FDA said the two operations resulted in the seizure of banned products worth ₹85.64 lakh and two Eicher trucks valued at ₹41 lakh, taking the total value of the seized property to ₹1.26 crore.

Officials also allegedly recovered two fake number plates — DD01S9763 and DD01AG9473 — from the second truck. An FIR was registered at Kasa police station in connection with the first interception, while a separate case was registered at Kasara police station in connection with the second.

In a separate operation on the same day, the FDA’s Buldhana division seized around 2.49 lakh kg of refined soyabean oil, valued at approximately ₹3.51 crore, from M/s Am Oels Private Limited at the Khamgaon MIDC industrial area in Buldhana district.

The FDA said the establishment was suspected of operating a food business without a valid licence and of possessing stock of substandard quality. Officials collected samples of the loose refined soyabean oil for analysis before seizing the remaining 2,48,845.4 kg stock, valued at ₹3,50,87,201.40.

The samples have been sent for laboratory analysis, and further action will be taken after the reports are received. The FDA said action over the alleged absence of a valid licence is also being initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and applicable rules and regulations.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the State would continue taking action against businesses involved in the manufacture, storage, transport or sale of banned, unlicensed or substandard food products.