Police in Tenkasi seized 31 kg of tobacco from 476 shops near schools, violating COTPA, and registered 30 cases
Police Seize Tobacco Products Near Schools
The police seized 31 kg of tobacco products during a surprise check on shops near educational institutions on Monday. They registered 30 cases related to this incident.
According to P. Saravanan, Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Tirunelveli Range, shops within 100 yards of educational institutions cannot sell tobacco products. Police special teams checked 476 shops in Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, and Kanniyakumari districts on Monday, leading to the seizure.
“After registering 30 cases, steps have been taken to seal these shops for violating COTPA,” Mr. Saravanan stated.
First-time violators of COTPA face one year of imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000. Repeat offenders may receive two years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh.
Mr. Saravanan encouraged anyone with information about the sale of tobacco products near educational institutions to contact the police anonymously through the Drug Free Tamil Nadu app.
Summary of Seized Tobacco Products
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Weight of Tobacco Products | 31 kg |
| Number of Cases Registered | 30 |
| Shops Checked | 476 |
| Imprisonment for First-Time Violators | 1 year |
| Fine for First-Time Violators | ₹50,000 |
| Imprisonment for Repeat Offenders | 2 years |
| Fine for Repeat Offenders | ₹1 lakh |
