Navi Mumbai Police Seize Gutkha Worth Over Rs 1 Crore in Taloja, Arrest Three
On a Friday in July 2026, the Navi Mumbai Police Crime Branch Unit-1 busted an interstate illegal tobacco supply network in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, seizing banned gutkha and scented pan masala worth over Rs 1.05 crore. The initial raid took place at a warehouse in Batli Compound in Dharna village, Taloja, where officers caught workers transferring the contraband.
During the operation, police intercepted workers transferring cartons of banned gutkha from an Eicher truck into two Maruti Suzuki Super Carry tempos. Officers seized Premium Rajnivas scented pan masala and Premium ZN-1 Zafrani Jarda valued at Rs 64.60 lakh, along with three goods vehicles valued at Rs 40 lakh. This brought the initial seizure total to Rs 1,05,63,000.
The three arrested individuals were identified as Karan Ram Salunkhe, Darshan alias Jaggu Omprakash Kumar, and Vinodkumar Prabhuram Prajapati.
During interrogation, Salunkhe disclosed the location of another stockpile hidden in a warehouse at Nilkamal Residency in Ghot Camp, Taloja. A subsequent follow-up raid at this location led to the seizure of an additional consignment of banned gutkha and pan masala worth Rs 16 lakh.
According to the police, the contraband was brought to Taloja for distribution across Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. A case has been registered at the Taloja Police Station against seven accused under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Food Safety and Standards Act. While three suspects are in custody, police are searching for the remaining four absconding individuals.
The operation was conducted by a team from Crime Branch Unit-1, including Senior Police Inspector Vikas Ghodke, Assistant Police Inspector Nileshkumar Mahadik, and Police Sub-Inspector Pradeep Borude.
Police also revealed that the prime accused, Karan Salunkhe, is a habitual offender with four to five prior criminal cases registered against him. Authorities suspect Salunkhe previously operated a gutkha distribution network across the Belapur-Airoli belt before moving his operations to the Panvel-Taloja area.
