Duplicate ‘Gutkha’ Worth Over Rs 2 Crore Seized During Raids In Berhampur

Berhampur: Police have seized huge quantity of duplicate ‘Gutkha’ (chewing tobacco) worth more than Rs 2 crore from three plants in Odisha’s Berhampur.

Following reliable information regarding duplicate Gutkha manufacturing units, police conducted raids on three factories on Bausiapalli-Budhighar road under Berhampur Sadar police limits on Tuesday.

During the raid, the police team led by Berhampur Sadar SDPO Shivshankar Mohapatra and IIC Mahendra Sahu seized raw materials for producing Gurkha weighing about 14,000 kg kept in 20 large bags, banned Gutkha products and 10 machines used for manufacturing and vehicles for transport. The cost of the seized raw materials and Gutkha of reputed brands was estimated to be over Rs 2 crore.

The police have also detained some workers engaged in the manufacturing units and were questioning them.

Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M said during enquiry it was ascertained that Narendra Kumar Sahu of Durbandha was
the kingpin who was running the factories and transporting those to all over Odisha and other states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Mitu Sahu was his associate and was managing the day-to-day operations.

Sahu was manufacturing, trading and storing the finished Gutkha products and raw materials without any licence or authority. Police have launched a manhunt to trace Sahu and his associate who are absconding.

It may be noted that the police had conducted raids at duplicate Gutkha factories in Sriramnagar and Sukunda in the city a few days back.