Maharashtra Government to Use Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to Combat Illegal Gutkha Trade

Mumbai:

The Maharashtra government is evaluating the implementation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to combat the illegal gutkha trade, according to Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal.

Even with the current prohibition on manufacturing and selling gutkha in the state, illegal shipments of this tobacco product continue to enter Maharashtra from external sources, posing significant health risks to students and young people, Minister Zirwal stated on Tuesday.

Zirwal revealed that the state authorities are considering applying MCOCA against gutkha company owners, key operators, and masterminds behind the illegal distribution network, as noted in an official statement from the minister's office.

He acknowledged that reports of gutkha and 'pan masala' transportation and sales continue to surface throughout Maharashtra despite the ban.

According to Tuesday's statement, the government will submit a proposal to the Law and Judiciary Department requesting guidance on whether MCOCA provisions can be applied against those responsible for illegal gutkha operations.

The minister made these remarks during a meeting at Mantralaya (secretariat) focused on actions against manufacturers and sellers of prohibited food products including gutkha, pan masala, scented tobacco, areca nut, 'kharra' and 'mawa'.

He emphasized the government's commitment to enforcing the gutkha ban more rigorously and instructed officials to launch district-level awareness campaigns through various departments about the cancer-causing product.

Earlier this year, the state government amended MCOCA to include manufacture, sale, and trafficking of drugs or chemical substances similar to narcotic offenses within the scope of the Act. This legislation contains stringent provisions, including strict bail conditions, extended time for filing chargesheets, and the admissibility of police confessions from accused persons in court.