Mumbai/Nagpur: In a major crackdown on the illegal gutkha and banned tobacco trade, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to initiate action under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against criminal networks involved in the manufacture, storage, transportation and sale of prohibited tobacco products across the State.

The move marks a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to curb the flourishing underground trade in gutkha and nicotine-laced pan masala, both of which remain banned under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

Gold Rate

June 152026 - Time 10.30Hrs

Gold 24 KT ₹ 1 51,300 /-

Gold 22 KT ₹ 1,40,300 /-

Silver/Kg ₹ 2,51,300/-

Platinum ₹ 88,000/-

Recommended rate for Nagpur sarafa Making charges minimum 13% and above

Addressing officials on Friday, Mundhe clarified that the stringent provisions of MCOCA would not be used to harass legitimate traders. Instead, the law would target organised criminal syndicates operating sophisticated illegal supply chains for banned products.

“The objective is to dismantle the entire syndicate involved in the illicit gutkha trade. These activities are not merely regulatory violations but organised crimes that pose a serious threat to public health,” Mundhe said.

According to the FDA, investigations conducted over the years have revealed a highly organised network behind the illegal tobacco business. Authorities have uncovered forged documents, fake invoices, shell companies, benami transactions, secret warehouses and interstate distribution channels used to evade enforcement agencies and continue the lucrative trade.

FDA officials said the illegal business generates substantial profits and operates through coordinated criminal networks, making it suitable for prosecution under MCOCA, a law primarily designed to tackle organised crime syndicates.

While action under the Food Safety and Standards Act will continue, FDA officers have now been instructed to coordinate closely with the police to build criminal cases under MCOCA against repeat offenders and organised groups.

The FDA has intensified its enforcement campaign across Maharashtra in recent weeks. Between May 25 and June 11, authorities inspected 354 establishments suspected of dealing in prohibited food and tobacco products.

The operations resulted in the seizure of banned goods worth Rs 3.27 crore. During the same period, 235 FIRs were registered, 359 individuals were arrested and 274 establishments were sealed for violations.

Officials believe the figures highlight the scale of the illegal trade despite the longstanding ban on gutka and similar products.

The proposal to invoke MCOCA against gutka operators has been under consideration since last year. FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal had earlier announced the government’s intention to use the anti-organised crime law against those involved in the trade, pending legal examination by the Law and Judiciary Department.

Joint Commissioner of the FDA Jai Krishna Fad said the state has a constitutional responsibility to protect public health and prevent the circulation of harmful substances. He noted that despite the ban, criminal networks continue to profit from the illegal manufacture and distribution of gutka through elaborate concealment mechanisms.

The move also aligns with assurances made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the Winter Session of the State Legislature, where he had indicated that MCOCA could be invoked against those running organised gutkha rackets.

Officials expect the tougher legal framework to serve as a strong deterrent and strike at the financial and operational backbone of the state’s illegal tobacco syndicates.