Rs 30,000 fine imposed on Chandigarh traders for selling illegal tobacco products

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Chandigarh, February 21

The UT Health Department has imposed a fine of Rs 30,200 on erring shopkeepers for selling illegal tobacco products here today.

In a concerted effort to uphold the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and the Excise Act, a joint team comprising officials from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Police Department, the Excise and Taxation Department, the Department of Legal Metrology and the Food Safety and Drug Control wing conducted a comprehensive raid today to curb the illegal sale and distribution of tobacco products in the region.

During the raid, several violators were apprehended for flouting the regulations stipulated under the COTPA Act and the Excise Act. Multiple vendors and shop owners were found to be selling cigarettes without maintaining proper purchase records and lacking appropriate signage as mandated under the COTPA 2003.

Illegal and imported cigarettes were seized by the Excise and Taxation Department highlighting the rampant evasion of custom, excise and GST duties. A fine of Rs 30,200 were imposed by the Health Department on the erring shopkeepers. Besides, the Police Department levied fines amounting to around Rs 1,000 under Section 4 of the COTPA 2003 for violations at public places.