Pune Rural Police Crack Down on Illegal Hookah Parlours in Lonavala; Five Individuals Booked

Lonavala, 18th March 2024: Police conducted raids on illegal hookah parlours in both urban and rural areas of Lonavala, resulting in the registration of a case against five individuals. Acting on information received by Satya Sai Karthik, Assistant Superintendent of Pune Rural Police’s Lonavala Division, regarding illicit hookah operations at Utopia Dine High, Kumar Resort in Lonavala city and Baithak Dhaba in rural area, law enforcement officials took action in the early hours of March 17.

The Maharashtra government has previously prohibited the operation of hookah parlours, and upon receiving reports of non-compliance, a police team undertook a nighttime raid. Upon inspection, it was discovered that hookah services were indeed being offered to customers within these establishments. During the raid, items related to hookah smoking, including utensils and aromatic tobacco, were confiscated, with a total value of Rs. 93,530.

Legal proceedings have been initiated against Rustam Vakil Ahmed (20 years old), Roshan Manoj Yadav (30 years old), Krishna Nath Rathod (31 years old, a resident of Lonavla), Pratap Krishna Dimble (42 years old, a resident of Karla), and Bipin Parameshwara Mahato (30 years old, a resident of Ulhasnagar, Thane). Sub-Inspectors Shubham Chavan, Rohan Patil, Ankush Naikude, Sachin Gaikwad, Subhash Shinde, Ankush Pawar, and Ganesh Yelwande executed the operation under the supervision of Rural Police Superintendent Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent Ramesh Chopde, and Assistant Superintendent Satya Sai Karthik.