- 56 lakh goods caught in 2 days
Nagpur. On the basis of secret information, the Crime Branch branch took action in the Transport Plaza area and caught a betel nut worth about Rs 34 lakh. Earlier on Thursday also, a betel nut worth Rs 22 lakh was caught by the department. Both the cases have been handed over to the Department of Food and Drugs (FDA). Including both the cases, the FDA has got betel nut worth 56 lakhs, which is being sealed.
Till late in the evening on Friday, FDA officials were taking betel nut samples. Sources said that the crime branch came to know that betel nut is kept at the place of BRP traders of owner Rajesh Pahuja. After this the raid was done. Here 15 tonnes of goods were caught, the value of which has been estimated at Rs 34 lakh. Similarly, betel nut worth Rs 22 lakh was also caught from the warehouse of Moryani Road Transport.
FDA took samples
FDA officials have taken samples from both the places. Officials said that the betel nut that has been caught at both the places is Indian arecanut. No imported betel nut. However, completing the process, the sample has been sent for examination and the sample taken on Friday will be sent to the lab on Monday.
some spies activated
Sources said that for the last few days a team of 3-4 people is roaming in Chikhli, Kalmana etc. including Itwari and they are calling themselves journalists. They demand money directly from the traders, otherwise they threaten to call the police and FDA. Action is being taken on the basis of similar information, but on taking action, it is found that the goods are not imported but Indian. Traders are angry about this. There is no restriction on the sale of Indian betel nut and it has got the status of agricultural product. He says that due to lack of concrete information, the business environment is getting spoiled.