31 held in hookah parlour raid in Rahatani

PUNE: The Sangvi police raided a hookah parlour in Rahatani on early Sunday and arrested 24 people, including nine women. Most are IT professionals and some are students. Police also arrested seven employees of the parlour. They were arrested for smoking in public and for violating the ban on hookah parlours.
The arrested were charged under sections of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (Prohibition of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003.They were produced in the court on Sunday and released on bail. The state banned hookah parlours in 2011.
A special squad led by deputy commissioner of police (zone-III) Shahaji Umap raided the parlour at 1 am on Sunday after a tip-off from the patrolling staff of the Sangvi police station.
Umap told TOI that hookah was served to a group of men and women. “Fifteen men and nine women were found smoking flavoured tobacco through the hookah,” Umap said.
Most were aged between 23 and 27 years and were techies working in Hinjewadi, Wakad and Tathawade areas. Some college students too were arrested, said Umap.
Assistant inspector of Sangvi police station S V Gade said the youths claimed they were at the place to eat. "They were subjected to a medical examination and arrests were made only after receiving a report from the hospital. The court released them on bail."
Hookah parlour managers Shabbir Jumuhiddin and Dilip Jaybhaue, cashier Kiran Rajput and four employees were arrested. "The parlour owner, who is absconding, hails from Mumbai. We are on the look out for him," Gade said.