India, April 12 -- The state government has told the Bombay High Court that flavoured hookah tobacco does not qualify as "food" and therefore the court cannot take action against its manufacturers or exporters under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.

The statement came in an affidavit filed in reply to petitions filed by SOEX India and High Street Impex LLP, companies engaged in manufacturing and exporting tobacco and related products.

The firms had approached the court through advocate Anukul Seth after Food Safety officials raided their factory in Pune district's Maval tehsil and a warehouse in Bhiwandi in December 2025 and January 2026. Authorities sealed their factory, storage facility and office in Fort bringing their b...