Hundreds of paan shop owners, including Mumbai vendors, gathered at Azad Maidan to protest the alleged misuse of MCOCA and Section 328 against small traders. The Maharashtra Pan Vyapari Mahasangh said the demonstration represented over seven lakh vendors and called for a uniform national policy (Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi)
Updated On: 2026-07-14 05:21 PM IST
Compiled by : Tarun Verma
Pan vendors at Azad Maidan protest against the alleged misuse of Section 328 of the IPC and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against small traders
Speaking at the protest, Ajit Suryavanshi said both high courts had earlier held that Section 328 could not be invoked in such cases and urged authorities to ensure uniform application of the law
The Maharashtra Pan Vyapari Mahasangh claimed the demonstration represented more than seven lakh paan vendors, describing it as one of the largest protests by the state's paan-trading community
Paan vendors attending the protest said they support efforts to curb the sale of gutka but opposed the application of stringent legal provisions against small businesses while the matter remains before the Supreme Court
Protesters urged the Maharashtra government to adopt a uniform national policy if certain products are to be prohibited instead of targeting traders only within the state
The Maharashtra Pan Vyapari Mahasangh said the Azad Maidan protest was a fight to protect the dignity, livelihood and future of lakhs of families associated with the paan trade while reaffirming its commitment to lawful business practices
