Pune Police has raided a wholesaler and booked the person for supplying cigarettes during the lockdown period. Cigarettes worth Rs 39 lakh have also been seized by the police.
Pune DCP Bacchan Singh said police got a tip-off that one key cigarette dealer in the city was selling cigarettes and other items that do not fall under essential commodities.
Acting on the tip, PSI Nileshkumar Mahadik sent a decoy customer to the wholesaler, who readily agreed to supply a carton of cigarette but at double the cost.
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As the lockdown continues, a carton of cigarette costs around Rs 5,000, which is double the rate during normal times. The decoy customer also bought a full carton from Shashikant Ramswaroop Chamadiya, the wholesaler.
A team of Pune Police’s Anti Narcotics Cell searched the go-down of the wholesaler in Koregaon Park area and seized 37 boxes containing cigarettes cartons. The combined cost of all the goods has been pegged at Rs 39,00,000.
Police have filed a case against the wholesaler under IPC sections 188, 269, 270, 273 and the Disaster Management Act as well.
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While Ramswaroop has not yet been arrested, he has been summoned to be present for investigation in the matter once the lockdown ends.
The investigating officers shared that police will be looking out for those pan shops which have been regularly buying banned items from this dealer.
Authorities have made it clear that only essential items will be sold during the lockdown and sin goods such as cigarettes and alcohol do not come under the permitted category.
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