Three shopkeepers were arrested by Katpadi police in Vellore on Wednesday for sale and stocking of gutka and other banned tobacco products in the area.
Police said the arrested persons were identified as K. Manivannan (50), V. Subramani (56), and B. Om Prakash (39). They run petty shops at Latteri, Ariyur and Viruthampattu villages around Katpadi for many years.
Along with food safety officials, police conducted surprise checks in petty shops in these villages after repeated complaints from the public on sale of banned tobacco products, especially among school students.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the State government had imposed a ban on the manufacture, storage, transport and sale of chewable tobacco products such as gutka and paan masala.
Police searched more than 60 shops in these areas in a three-hour long exercise. Around 30 kg of gutka was seized from three shops, which were sealed by food safety officials. Cases were registered against them. Later, they were produced before the local court and lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is underway.
Published – March 05, 2025 11:47 pm IST
