📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Jorge Royan
Crime
Maharashtra FDA Suspends Four Officers, 21 Face Inquiry After Rs 31.67 Cr Tobacco Seizure
✍️ Mid-Day
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 10:12 AM
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The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended four of its officers and is probing 21 others after a seizure of tobacco worth Rs 31.67 crore. The move follows allegations of irregularities in the handling of the seized goods.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that four of its officers have been suspended pending an inquiry into the seizure of tobacco worth Rs 31.67 crore. The seized goods were reportedly found in a warehouse that was under the jurisdiction of the FDA’s enforcement wing.
In addition to the suspensions, the FDA has placed 21 other officers under investigation. The agency said the inquiry will focus on whether proper procedures were followed during the seizure and whether any irregularities or misconduct occurred.
The Maharashtra FDA released a statement saying the action was taken to maintain the integrity of its enforcement operations and to ensure that all regulatory protocols are strictly adhered to. It added that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Act.
The seized tobacco batch was valued at Rs 31.67 crore, a figure that underscores the scale of the illicit trade that the FDA is attempting to curb. The agency has urged all officials to cooperate fully with the investigation and to report any suspicious activity.
The FDA’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny of the tobacco industry in Maharashtra, where authorities have intensified efforts to crack down on illegal manufacturing and distribution of tobacco products.
In addition to the suspensions, the FDA has placed 21 other officers under investigation. The agency said the inquiry will focus on whether proper procedures were followed during the seizure and whether any irregularities or misconduct occurred.
The Maharashtra FDA released a statement saying the action was taken to maintain the integrity of its enforcement operations and to ensure that all regulatory protocols are strictly adhered to. It added that the investigation would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Act.
The seized tobacco batch was valued at Rs 31.67 crore, a figure that underscores the scale of the illicit trade that the FDA is attempting to curb. The agency has urged all officials to cooperate fully with the investigation and to report any suspicious activity.
The FDA’s decision comes amid growing scrutiny of the tobacco industry in Maharashtra, where authorities have intensified efforts to crack down on illegal manufacturing and distribution of tobacco products.