Nagpur: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Indore, has taken Nagpur-based supari (areca nut) trader Jayesh Panchmatia, also known as Tikku Bhai, into custody in connection with an alleged illegal areca nut import and customs evasion case dating back to 2024.
A DRI team reportedly conducted an operation in Nagpur and took Panchmatia to Indore for questioning. The action has triggered considerable anxiety in the city’s supari trading market, with sources indicating that around 10 traders from different parts of the country have been detained in connection with the investigation.
According to sources, the case relates to the seizure of approximately ₹30–35 crore worth of areca nuts in Indore in 2024. A consignment was also reportedly seized from Panchmatia’s warehouse. The sacks containing the areca nuts allegedly carried labels mentioning ‘Origin of Bangladesh’.
Investigators are now examining the supply chain and the alleged Bangladesh connection. The DRI reportedly suspects that the country-of-origin declarations may have been misrepresented, as Bangladesh is not considered a major producer of areca nuts. The investigation is also examining possible large-scale customs duty evasion.
Import duty on areca nuts is reportedly around 105%, making customs compliance a key focus of the investigation. Officials suspect that traders may have used different routes and methods to evade the applicable duties before bringing the consignments into Nagpur and supplying them to gutkha manufacturing companies.
Three More Nagpur Names Under Scanner
Sources have indicated that three other individuals from Nagpur have also been named in the case. These reportedly include traders associated with the Chaurasia and Siddiqui businesses, along with a financier who allegedly operates under the cover of an iron trading business while also financing areca nut transactions.
Further action against these individuals is expected as the investigation progresses. Panchmatia’s questioning is believed to be aimed at uncovering the wider network, including suppliers, financiers and distribution channels.
Earlier Customs Cases Also Under Scrutiny
Panchmatia’s name had reportedly surfaced in earlier customs-related cases in Chennai, including proceedings involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Madras High Court. Those cases were also linked to areca nut imports.
The latest DRI action is expected to bring renewed scrutiny to Nagpur’s extensive supari trading network. Investigators are attempting to establish how the consignments were imported, transported and distributed, and whether customs duties were deliberately evaded.
