A delivery agent working for a quick commerce platform was arrested on Saturday for allegedly supplying cigarettes to underage students in Kota’s Landmark City area. The arrest came after a crackdown on the sale and distribution of cigarettes to minors.
Satyaprakash Koli, 48, was apprehended by the police while he was delivering cigarettes to coaching students. According to Kota City SP Amrita Duhan, a case has been filed against Koli under the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act and the Rajasthan Prohibition of Smoking and Non-smoker’s Health Protection Act.
The police had previously issued a warning to Blinkit representatives, urging them to stop selling cigarettes to minors. However, despite these instructions, the company continued to supply the prohibited items to students in the area.
Authorities are investigating whether other Blinkit personnel were involved in the illegal activity. Police have also seized stock and supply registers from the company’s store for further examination. The investigation will explore the company’s distribution network in other cities to determine the extent of the violation.
Kunhadi Circle Inspector Arvind Bhardwaj stated that the police would file a chargesheet against Blinkit and emphasized that supplying tobacco products to minors is a serious offence. Koli was presented before the court on Sunday and sent to jail.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to scrutinize the company’s practices and its role in facilitating the sale of prohibited materials to underage students.
