Continuing its drive against substance abuse under the “Operation Thunder – Let’s Unite for a Drug-Free Society” initiative, conceptualised by Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, city police raided an unauthorised hookah parlour in Sadar and registered a case against five individuals for allegedly serving prohibited tobacco products.
Acting on specific intelligence, a team from the Sadar Police Station conducted a late-night raid between 12.15 am and 12.40 am on March 24 at Downtown Hookah Parlour located on Mount Road, adjacent to Hotel Saatbara in Sadar. During the operation, police allegedly found the accused supplying flavoured tobacco hookah to customers without any valid licence.
The accused have been identified as Shubham Suresh Jain (30), a resident of Koshtipura near Nikas Mandir; Prince Naresh Thomas (20) of Gaddigodam near Shri Brothers Saree Shop, Sadar; Paresh Naresh Sorte (19) of Lakadganj; Rehan Ali Abdul Ali (30) of Mahal; and Mohammad Aitekhan Mohammad Shakeel (27), also a resident of Mahal.
Police said the group was operating the establishment in collusion for financial gain. During the raid, officers seized hookah pots, flavoured tobacco stock and other related materials collectively valued at Rs 8,750.
An offence has been registered under Sections 4(a) and 21(a) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, as amended by the Maharashtra Act, 2018. Further investigation is underway, and police have indicated that similar action will continue as part of the ongoing anti-narcotics and anti-tobacco enforcement campaign.
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