Inter-state racket busted, banned tobacco worth Rs3L seized

Nagpur: Three persons, including one from Sausar in Madhya Pradesh, were arrested by Kelvad police last week while they were on way to city to deliver banned flavoured tobacco and pan masala worth over Rs3 lakh.
The gang was intercepted at Sawali phata following a tip-off. The trio was denied bail and sent to judicial custody.
The arrested accused have been identified as Pravin Jhanjhal, Devendra Choubey and Rajesh Turkar. Choubey, from Sausar, was reportedly instrumental in sourcing the banned products from Pandhurna in Madhya Pradesh and delivering it to Turkar. Jhanjhal was driving the vehicle, which has been seized. Turkar was supposed to take the consignment to Dighori.
This was the first major action after police got special powers around a fortnight ago to crackdown on racketeers dealing in spurious substances banned in the state.
Sources in the police department said the racketeers mislead police by claiming to be heading towards Amravati or Hyderabad, but never reveal the name of the actual receiver. In city, several racketeers based in Jaripatka and Gandhibagh have been stocking the illegal tobacco and pan masala.
According to a police source, large quantity of banned flavoured tobacco is being sourced in city to be used as base material for narcotics like MD powder.