Telangana Police catch pan shop owner for allegedly selling cigarettes to minors

The Telangana Police's EAGLE Force on Sunday caught a pan shop owner and his worker for allegedly selling cigarettes to minors in Old Bowenpally, Secunderabad.

Police said the action followed a tip-off. EAGLE Force personnel visited the area 22 times before they allegedly caught two minors, aged 14 and 17, buying cigarettes from the shop on August 30. The purchase was recorded on video as evidence, police said.

After verifying the incident, the EAGLE Force team, along with personnel from the Bowenpally police under the Malkajgiri Commissionerate, raided Limra Pan Mahal.

The shop owner, Md. Yusuf Uddin Goury, 65, and his 19-year-old worker, Md. Rehan Ali, were apprehended during the operation.

Police seized cigarettes and tobacco products from around 10 brands, including Marlboro, American, Classic, Edition Gold Flake and Chams Flake. The seized products were valued at approximately Rs 60,000.

The two apprehended persons and the seized tobacco products were handed over to Bowenpally police for further legal action.