India, Jan. 5 -- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pune division, has unearthed a large-scale operation involved in the manufacture, storage and sale of scented tobacco and shisha (hookah) flavours, which are prohibited for human consumption, at a factory in Maval taluka. Officials seized illegal stock and raw material weighing over 5.48 lakh kgs and valued at more than Rs.31.67 crore.

Acting on inputs from an earlier seizure in Thane district, the Pune FDA raided Soex India Pvt Ltd at Takve Budruk. Officials said the 24-hour operation began at 3.15 pm on January 2 and continued until January 3. The seizure included raw tobacco, glucose syrup, glycerin, and finished products such as scented tobacco and shisha flavours used in hooka...