Odisha Police Turn The Heat On ‘Gutkha’ Mafia, Freeze Bank Account

Berhampur: Odisha Police have freeze bank account of a ‘Gutkha’ mafia in Berhampur and seized more than Rs 28 lakh.

Three ‘Gutkha’ factories Bausiapalli-Budhighar road under Berhampur Sadar police limits on the outskirts of the city were raided by a police team led by Berhampur Sadar SDPO Shivshankar Mohapatra and IIC Mahendra Sahuon Tuesday.

The factories were sealed and raw materials weighing about 14,000 kg in 20 large bags, banned Gutkha products and 10 machines used for manufacturing and four vehicles for transport were seized during the raid, Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M informed.

The cost of the seized raw materials and Gutkha of reputed brands was estimated to be over Rs 2 crore.

The owner, identified as Narendra Sahoo, managed to escape from the spot.

Sahoo was the kingpin. He ran the factories and transported 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, police sources added.

Further investigation is underway and a manhunt has been launched to nab him.