In a late-night crackdown, the Crime Branch’s Anti-Narcotics Squad raided an alleged illegal hookah café operating as ‘House of Beer’ inside Hotel Heritage near the VCA Stadium and booked 49 people, including the owner, staff and customers.
The raid was carried out around 12.30 am on Wednesday at the café located on the fifth floor of the hotel. Acting on a tip-off that prohibited tobacco hookah was being served, police found several young men and women allegedly smoking hookah at the premises.
According to police, café operator Gurpreet Singh Harjinder Singh Khanduja (40), a resident of Sadar, was allegedly serving prohibited tobacco hookah to 43 customers, including nine women, with the help of three waiters. During the inspection, officials also found that the café was operating without a valid licence.Police seized several hookah pots, tobacco-based hookah flavours and other smoking accessories from the café.
A case has been registered against 49 persons, including the owner, café staff and customers, under the relevant provisions of the law. Further investigation is underway.
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