3 booked for selling banned Pakistani cosmetic products in Sambhajinagar

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The City Chowk police booked three traders for allegedly stocking and selling banned Pakistani cosmetic products in violation of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act and other laws, officials said on Sunday. Goods worth Rs 59,980 were seized during coordinated raids at three shops in the city.The accused have been identified as Mohammad Abrar (26), a resident of Nawabpura who runs Highlight Collection in Ghasmandi; Ankur Agrawal (35), a resident of Shahganj who operates Om Traders; and Juman Khan (48), a resident of Shahabaazar who owns Falak Emporium at City Centre Mall, Rangargalli.According to the complaint filed by sub-inspector Pravin Tekale, the action was carried out on Sunday between 1.50pm and 5pm at the three establishments. The FIR was registered later in the night at 10.55pm under relevant sections of the FTDR Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.Deputy commissioner of police (Zone-I) Pankaj Atulkar said that during the raids, a large quantity of cosmetic products, including whitening creams, soaps, serums and beauty packs of various brands, were found stocked for sale without valid purchase bills. "These items are suspected to have been illegally imported from Pakistan. Import of these items has been prohibited by a Govt of India notification," an officer said.As per the seizure details, goods worth Rs 52,180 were recovered from Abrar's shop, including multiple variants of beauty creams, soaps and serums labelled under different brand names. From Agrawal's premises, goods worth Rs 6,000 were seized, while products valued at Rs 1,800 were recovered from Khan's shop.Investigators said the accused were found in possession of the products without any valid invoices or import documents, raising suspicion of illegal trade. "The products were kept for sale, thereby cheating customers and violating govt regulations," a police officer said.Officials said that as per the Directorate General of Foreign Trade notification, dated May 2, 2025, import of goods originating from Pakistan have been banned, but the accused allegedly procured and stocked such items for commercial sale.The offence was registered under sections 3(3) and 11(2) of the FTDR Act, along with BNS sections 318(4) and 223, and sections 18(A) and 27 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.The case was registered on the orders of the senior inspector of City Chowk police station. Sub-inspector Dagadkhair was the complainant in the case, while further investigation was handed over to sub-inspector Rathod. Police said further probe is underway to ascertain the supply chain and identify others involved in the trade network.