A social media complaint about a group of boys vaping near FDDI in Raidurgam led the Telangana EAGLE Force to a wider probe into the illegal supply of e-cigarettes to minors, culminating in the apprehension of two 21-year-old men and the seizure of 13 e-cigarettes.
The enquiry began after a complaint was received through X, accompanied by a video purportedly showing boys vaping at the location on July 2. The EAGLE Force identified four boys, aged between 15 and 17, and seized two e-cigarettes from them.
During counselling and enquiry, the minors reportedly told the police that two of their minor acquaintances had provided them with the e-cigarettes. The information prompted the EAGLE Force to trace the source of the devices.
The investigation led to Arsalan Sharief, 21, of Musheerabad, who was apprehended on September 1. Eleven e-cigarettes were seized from him.
The investigation reportedly found that Sharief procured e-cigarettes through cash-on-delivery orders placed online. The websites identified during the enquiry were Vape India, Pod India and Podkits. According to the police, he would order at least five e-cigarettes at a time, paying around ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 for each.
Sharief allegedly supplied the devices to two minor boys through his associate Mudasir Mujahid, 21, of Tolichowki. The pair allegedly charged around ₹2,000 for each e-cigarette supplied to the minors.
The two men, along with the seized e-cigarettes and two mobile phones, were handed over to the Musheerabad police for further legal action.
A case was registered under Section 4 read with Section 7 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019, and Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, against the persons concerned and the three websites identified during the investigation.
Published – September 02, 2026 09:35 pm IST
