To catch vendor in act, first puff of a cigarette

On the basis of the ‘sting’ operation, Delhi Police arrested the vendor at the paan kiosk, identified as Jatinder Bhasin (40), on Sunday under Section 77 of the amended Juvenile Justice Act.

paan kiosk vendor arrested for selling cigarettes to minors

A paan kiosk vendor was arrested on Sunday under Section 77 of the amended Juvenile Justice Act

The first time he smoked a cigarette, he did not inhale the smoke. Instead, the 14-year-old trapped it in his mouth and let it out with a cough. Three more puffs and the wheezing led to nausea. Each of this was caught on the camera of a smartphone — from the time the cigarette was sold till the last puff was exhaled.

The entire act was shot by two boys on a smartphone. On the basis of the footage, Delhi Police arrested the vendor at the paan kiosk, identified as Jatinder Bhasin (40), on Sunday under Section 77 of the amended Juvenile Justice Act.

The two cousins, aged 14 and 16, while talking to The Indian Express, said that they used to spot many children from well-off families as well as the streets smoke cigarettes around the paan kiosk on a daily basis. “I used to see the open flesh of a cancer patient (on packets). It would repulse me; I thought the boys should not smoke. But cigarettes were very easily available. My father had spoken to the vendor but he continued to sell tobacco to children,” the 16-year-old said.

Two days before the ‘sting’ operation, the two cousins had roped in two friends. They were tasked with shooting the sting. They scouted for a location from which the whole thing could be captured,” the 14-year-old said.

The cousins had also discussed what to do if anything went wrong. “If our friends were caught, we would have pretended that we did not know them,” the boy said, laughing.

The two children operating the camera positioned themselves atop a car while the cousins bought two cigarettes and two gutkha packets. But that was not enough to establish the sale, so one of the boys decided to smoke near the kiosk. “My father is proud of us. He knew that children were smoking in the open. We finally had the proof we needed. It was just like those detective serials we watched,” the 14-year-old said.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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