Gutkha, soybean oil worth ₹4.78 crore seized in FDA operations in Maharashtra

Representative image only. File | Photo credit: AP

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra on 28 September seized goods and vehicles worth nearly ₹4.78 crore in two separate operations in Palghar-Thane and Buldhana, including banned gutkha and tobacco products and a large stock of refined soybean oil suspected of being substandard.

In the first operation, FDA teams seized banned gutkha, pan masala and incense along with two trucks with an aggregate value of ₹1.26 crore, following seizures in Palghar and Thane districts. The operation began after the FDA received information that two trucks carrying banned products were going from Palghar towards Bhiwandi.

According to the FDA, a special unit intercepted the first truck shortly after it crossed the Charoti Toll Plaza at 7:04 a.m. The search reportedly revealed banned gutkha and tobacco products worth more than ₹50 lakh. The driver was taken into custody.

The driver of the second truck, which was following some distance behind, reportedly took a U-turn at Achad Naka in Palghar after the first vehicle was intercepted and fled towards Gujarat. The FDA later received information that the vehicle would try to reach Bhiwandi via the Nashik-Kasara route, following which another team was sent towards Kasara Ghat. The truck was intercepted in Kasara police limits around 12.45 pm

The FDA said the two operations led to the seizure of banned products worth ₹85.64 crore and two Eicher trucks worth ₹41 crore, taking the total value of seized assets to ₹1.26 crore.

Officials also reportedly recovered two fake license plates — DD01S9763 and DD01AG9473 — from the second truck. An FIR was registered at the Kasa police station in connection with the first wiretapping, a separate case was registered at the Kasara police station in connection with the second.

In a separate operation on the same day, FDA’s Buldhana Division seized around 2.49 lakh kg of refined soybean oil worth around ₹ 3.51 crore from M/s Am Oels Private Limited at Khamgaon MIDC Industrial Area in Buldhana district.

The FDA said the facility was suspected of operating a food business without a valid license and of having substandard quality inventory. Before seizing the remaining 2,48,845.4 kg stock worth ₹ 3,50,87,201.40, the officials took samples of bulk refined soybean oil for analysis.

The samples have been sent for laboratory analysis and further action will be taken once the reports are received. The FDA said action due to the alleged absence of a valid license is also being initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and applicable rules and regulations.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said the state will continue to take action against businesses involved in manufacturing, storing, transporting or selling banned, unlicensed or substandard food products.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 17:32 IST