KORAPUT: The Rayagada district police in Odisha raided at least three gutka godwons situated in the district headquarters town and seized 330 bags of gutka worth over Rs 1 crore on Sunday night and arrested one person for running the illegal trade.
Police said the arrested trader is identified as Ipili Rabi Kumar and five cases have been registered against him at Rayagada and Chandili police stations.
“We were tipped-off about the stock of huge quantities of gutka in a house at Saipriya nagar in the town and accordingly a raid was conducted and the banned tobacco product was seized. Also, the main accused was arrested and following his information, more quantities of gutka was seized from Chandili police limits,” SP (Rayagada) Saravana Vivek M.
“Police action against illegal gutka trade will be intensified in coming days,” the SP added.