Sarkhej police seize ₹3 lakh worth of firecrackers stored illegally in residential building

The Sarkhej police on Tuesday night seized firecrackers worth ₹3.14 lakh from a residential building in the Sarkhej area of Ahmedabad and booked a 30-year-old man for illegally stocking and selling them without a licence or permit, in violation of safety regulations ahead of Diwali.

The accused, identified as Jitubhai Agarwal (30), a resident of Ambikanagar Society in Sarkhej, was allegedly selling firecrackers from the first floor of his house without the mandatory pass or permit. 

Acting on a tip-off received around 8.15 pm on October 14, a police team raided the premises. During the raid, the team found Jitubhai sitting inside a room stacked with cartons of branded firecrackers of various sizes and makes. When questioned, he allegedly failed to produce any official pass or licence required under the Explosives Rules, 2008, for storage and sale.

The raid resulted in the seizure of multiple boxes of fancy sky fireworks, which had a total market value of ₹3.14 lakh. Following the seizure, an FIR was lodged under Section of the Explosives Act, 1884, for possession and sale of fireworks without authorisation, and further investigation is on. 

Officials said preliminary findings indicate that the accused was operating an illegal fireworks business from his residence and selling to locals without following fire safety norms, posing a potential hazard to nearby residents.

“The sale and storage of fireworks in residential areas is strictly prohibited without a licence. We have seized the entire stock and initiated legal proceedings,” said a Sarkhej police official associated with the probe.