PUNE, 11 NOV. Pune Police have taken action against an illegal hookah parlour running on agricultural land in the Baner area. The police raided the establishment and seized hookah pots, flavoured tobacco, and other materials worth a total of ₹48,650.
A case has been registered against the owner of the hookah parlour, the owner of the farmland, the manager, and the employees involved. The complaint was filed by Police Constable Vaghesh Kamble at the Chaturshringi Police Station, and the accused have been booked under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Maharashtra Amendment) Act.
According to police information, on Saturday (November 8), the Chaturshringi police received a tip-off that an illegal hookah parlour was being operated under the name 'Farm Cafe' in a field on the Oundh-Baner link road. Following this information, the police conducted a raid and took action. During the operation, 20 glass hookah pots and flavoured tobacco, collectively valued at ₹48,650, were seized.
The state government had banned hookah parlours following the Kamala Mills tragedy in Mumbai. Although the Bombay High Court had, on October 14, indicated that there were no objections to selling nicotine or tobacco-free herbal hookahs in restaurants while adhering to tobacco laws, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had clearly stated that herbal hookah would not be permitted in Pune under any circumstances. This operation falls under the ongoing drive against the violation of the ban on hookah parlours in the city.
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