Nagpur: In a major crackdown under the “Operation Thunder: Let’s Build a Drug-Free Society” initiative launched by Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Nagpur City Police Crime Branch Unit 4 arrested two men for illegally possessing and selling banned tobacco products.
Acting on a tip-off, the Crime Branch team along with Food Safety Officers intercepted a red Toyota Innova car (MH 30 AA 4437) near Hotel SS Stay-In, behind Lonara bus stop in Koradi area, around 1:55 pm on November 7, 2025. A search of the vehicle led to the recovery of banned tobacco and pan masala products of various brands and flavours.
The car driver identified himself as Sunil Budhaji Bhimte (53), a resident of Republican Nagar, Indora, Jaripatka. During interrogation, he revealed that he supplied the contraband to his associate Jitendra Dashrath Mahajan (42) of Khaparkheda, Nagpur. Police later searched Mahajan’s shop and seized a large quantity of banned tobacco products.
From the possession of both accused, police confiscated 522 kg of scented tobacco and pan masala packets of brands including Rimzim, Janam, Gold, Golden Safari, Rajnigandha, Pan Bahar, Vimal, Baba, V1, and PK, collectively worth ₹5,33,937. Additionally, officers seized two mobile phones, ₹6,450 in cash, and the Toyota Innova, bringing the total seizure value to ₹13,51,387.
Police said the accused were engaged in the illegal trade of banned tobacco for financial gain. Based on the complaint filed by Food Safety Officer Kirana Rangaswami Gedam (50), Koradi Police registered an offence under Sections 123, 223, 274, 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Both accused have been arrested and remanded to police custody.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Detection) Rahul Makanikar, and ACP (Crime Branch) Abhijeet Patil. The team included PI Kamalakar Gaddime, API Jitesh Aravelli, and staff members Nilesh Dhone, Abhishek Shanivare, Atul Chate, Purushottam Jaganade, Satish Thakre, Prakash Rajpalliwar, Deva Navghare, and Govind Deshmukh.
Further investigation is underway.
