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- by Parinda Bureau, January 28, 2006, 12:36 IST
Gutkha King Rasiklal Manikchand Dhariwal, owner of the Manikchand brand of Gutkha has been sentenced to one year simple imprisonment on the charge of selling gutkha containing manganese carbonate, which is considered harmful to health. Dhariwal has been found guilty of violating provisions of the Food and Drugs Act.
A court in Pimpri-Chinchwad area of Pune gave the verdict under the Food and Drugs act. Dhariwal has also been fined Rs.2000 in this case which dates back to Decemebr 1997.
A Foods Inspector of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Dilip Karanjkale, had purchased a gutka pouch from a shop in December 1997.
On suspecting that the gutkha contained harmful substances, he sent the pouch to a government lab for testing. Tests revealed the presence of manganese carbonate in it. On the basis of this report, the court gave its judgment.
Dhariwal will be challenging this verdict in the Bombay high court. Rasiklal Manikchand Dhariwal has been in the news for various reasons in the past including his business wars, his links with Dawood Ibrahim and his purchase of a Mercedes Maybach. Dhariwal also sponsored the Filmfare awards for many years.
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