New Delhi, Oct 8: The Special Task Force (STF) of Delhi Police on Thursday has busted an illegal stocking and distribution network involving foreign-brand cigarettes and apprehended one person in connection with the case.

Acting on specific intelligence, the STF conducted a targeted raid at a shop in Naya Bans at Pan Mandi in Delhi’s Khari Baoli, and recovered 78,800 cigarette sticks belonging to nine international brands.

The seized cigarettes did not carry the mandatory pictorial health warnings prescribed under Indian law.

According to the police, secret information was received by the STF/North on October 7 regarding the illegal stocking and distribution of imported foreign cigarettes at Shop No. 6363, Naya Bans, Pan Mandi in Khari Baoli. Acting on the information, a dedicated team was constituted under the supervision of Inspector Ashish Kumar Dubey, STF In-charge, (North), and the guidance of ACP/Operations/North Vishesh Dhatterwal.

The team comprised Sub-Inspectors Saurav and Sartaj, Assistant Sub-Inspectors Rajiv and Shahir, Head Constables Nishant, Parveen and Mukul, and Constables Nishant and Mayank.

During the raid, the team apprehended Junaid Ahmed, 45, a resident of Naya Bans at Pan Mandi in Khari Baoli.

A search of the premises led to the recovery of 78,800 cigarette sticks of various foreign brands.

The seized stock included 32,200 sticks of Esse Lights, 32,000 of Mond, 5,200 of Esse Special Gold, 2,400 of Esse Golden Leaf, 2,400 of Win, 1,600 of Djarum Black, 1,400 of Dunhill Silver, 1,000 of Dunhill Black and 600 of Davidoff Gold.

Police said the cigarettes did not bear the mandatory pictorial health warnings required under Indian law.

Following the recovery, an FIR dated October 7, was registered under Sections 7/20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) at Lahori Gate Police Station. Further investigation has been initiated.

During questioning, Ahmed disclosed that he had been working as a manager at a gutka shop in Naya Bans for the past six months.

Police said that, besides gutka, foreign-brand cigarettes were stocked in bulk at the premises and supplied in retail quantities as well as against specific orders.

According to the police, the cigarettes were procured from suppliers dealing in foreign-brand tobacco products and were allegedly being sold without the prescribed health warnings.

The owner of the shop was not present during the raid.

Police teams are making efforts to trace him and ascertain his alleged role in the procurement, storage and sale of the cigarettes.

Investigators are also working to identify the suppliers involved and trace the source and distribution network of the recovered consignment.

Police said further investigation is underway to establish the complete chain involved in the illegal procurement, stocking and distribution of the foreign cigarettes.

Surat, Oct 8: The Surat City’s Special Operations Group (SOG), along with the Food and Drugs Department, in Gujarat, raided two medical stores in the Salabatpura-Mandarwaja area for allegedly selling medicines used for intoxication without doctors’ prescriptions and seized 18,316 tablets and three bottles of codeine syrup valued at Rs 2.75 lakh.

The action was carried out on Wednesday at Smit Sai and Daruwala Shivshakti medical stores located at Halpati Colony on the 80-foot road from Kinnari towards Bhathena.

According to the SOG, the action followed instructions from Surat Police Commissioner Wabang Jamir to identify medical stores allegedly selling intoxicating syrups and tablets without prescriptions, and in violation of regulations.

The police said such medicines could be misused for intoxication, including by young people.

SOG Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdeepsinh Nakum supervised the operation, while SOG Police Inspector A.S. Sonara formed separate teams to keep watch on medical stores suspected of selling medicines used for intoxication.

The SOG said it received information that intoxicating medicines were being sold without doctors’ prescriptions at two medical stores in the Salabatpura-Mandarwaja area.

Following the information, SOG personnel conducted the raids along with Food and Drugs Inspectors G.U. Upadhyay, Jeelben Gameti and Pinalben Vavaiya.

During inspections, the Food and Drugs Department found stocks of medicines that were allegedly being kept in violation of regulations and could be used for intoxication.

The seized stock comprised 1,440 Pyeevon Sas Plus tablets, 144 Spas Tracenp tablets, 6,920 Spasmo Proxyvon tablets, 750 Apcolam tablets, 3,840 Calic tablets, 5,200 Prehabalin tablets and 20 Pregout Kit tablets. In addition, three bottles of codeine syrup were recovered.

“The total number of tablets seized was 18,316, while the combined value of the seized medicines and syrup was estimated at Rs 2,75,068,” the SOG said.

The Food and Drugs Department has begun further investigation into the stock recovered from both medical stores.

The police said that if the medicines are found to have been kept or sold illegally, legal action will be taken against the licence holders and operators of the two medical stores.

The SOG said the operation was undertaken as part of efforts to identify medical stores involved in the unauthorised sale of medicines that are liable to be misused for intoxication.

Navi Mumbai, Oct 8: Sanjay Kantu Yadav, a 38-year-old man, died in police custody in Navi Mumbai. Yadav was arrested by the Navi Mumbai International Airport Police in connection with a case. He lived in Ananta Tower in Ulwe Sector 6 and was originally from Varanasi district in Uttar Pradesh. Following his arrest, a court remanded him in police custody.

According to police, Yadav was lodged in the lock-up at the NRI Sagari Police Station in Navi Mumbai on October 8. At the time, the lock-up staff noticed him clenching his fists and flexing his arms and legs. When his condition deteriorated, police officers immediately rushed him to Meenatai Thackeray Hospital in Nerul, where he was declared dead during treatment.

Police said Yadav had undergone a medical examination at Panvel Rural Hospital before his arrest. He did not report any health problems when he was produced before the court. Even during a medical examination conducted on October 6, he did not report any illness or health-related complaints.

Senior police officials have been informed about the incident. A inquest report is being conducted through videography in the presence of the Belapur First Class Judicial Magistrate, panch witnesses and the deceased man’s family members.

The body is being sent to J.J. Hospital in Mumbai for a post-mortem examination. Police said further legal proceedings are underway.

However, this is not the first such incident in Maharashtra.

Earlier, on September 22, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Maharashtra Police was investigating the death of a 35-year-old man who died while in the custody of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai.

The deceased, Imran Shaikh, had come to the city from Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in search of employment.

According to Central Railway officials, Shaikh had made enquiries about trains bound for Khandwa at the main RPF post at CSMT on September 20.

Officials said he appeared agitated and claimed that people were trying to kill him. They said Shaikh subsequently became aggressive and attacked RPF Sub-Inspector Aniket. He also inflicted injuries on himself, according to officials.