Kolkata, Sep 17 (IANS) : The Kolkata Police arrested four persons and seized a large quantity of illegally stored e-cigarettes during a raid on a shop in the city, the police said on Thursday.
A joint team of the Anti-Rowdy Section (ARS) and Detective Department raided ‘The Smokers Den’ at 191 Park Street, under Beniapukur police station, on Wednesday night. The raid followed a tip-off that e-cigarettes were being illegally stored and sold at the shop.
A senior Kolkata Police officer said, “The questioning of the arrested persons is going on in this matter. The four arrested persons will be produced before the ACJM court in Sealdah today (Thursday). The investigators may apply for their custody in the court for questioning. The matter is being investigated from all angles.”
According to the police, the shop was being used to illegally store and sell e-cigarettes. During the search, investigators recovered a large quantity of e-cigarettes and arrested four persons associated with the establishment.
The accused have been identified as 22-year-old Mohammed Rifaiz, 28-year-old Abdul Hakim K, 21-year-old Ahmed Masud and 40-year-old Mohammed Ejaz. All four are residents of Kolkata.
The police said the first three accused were found to be living at an address on Linton Street in the Beniapukur police station area. The fourth accused is a resident of Ripon Street in the city.
Investigators are examining whether the shop had been stocking and selling e-cigarettes for a prolonged period. The arrested persons are being questioned to determine the source of the seized e-cigarettes, identify their suppliers, and ascertain whether other people are involved in the alleged illegal trade.
A case has been registered by the Detective Department at Beniapukur police station in connection with the incident. Police have invoked multiple sections of law in the case.
Sources said further raids could be conducted at other shops in the city as part of the investigation. The move is aimed at determining whether other shops are also illegally storing or selling e-cigarettes in the city.
Further investigation into the case is underway, said the police.
