Fake pan masala unit busted in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A special squad of the Commissionerate of Police on Saturday busted a fake pan masala (zarda) manufacturing unit at Laxmivihar under Laxmisagar police limits and detained four persons.

The police also seized raw materials and packaging units worth more than Rs 2 crore.

Sources said the special squad came to know about the existence of the fake pan masala manufacturing unit during a raid on a rented house near Haladipadia slum.

The unit had been operating in Laxmivihar area for the past two years, the sources added.

Bhubaneswar DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said, “We have to find out how much tobacco or gutkha content is present in the raw materials seized from the fake manufacturing unit and from where they were procuring these items. Questioning of the detained four persons is on.”

Earlier, the original company which owns the pan masala brand had lodged a police complaint.