Pune: Illegal Hookah Parlor Busted at Market Yard Hotel, Four Booked
Market Yard, 8th April 2025: A late-night raid by the Pune City Police Crime Branch led to the busting of an illegally operating hookah parlor at Billions Lounge near Aai Mata Mandir in Market Yard. The action was carried out on the night of April 7 by Police Inspector Waheed Pathan from Crime Branch Unit 5, along with his team, under instructions from senior officials.
During the raid, police seized hookah pots, flavored tobacco, related paraphernalia, and cash amounting to ₹32,000. The hotel operator, identified as Arif Shabbir Sheikh (24), a resident of Saibaba Nagar, Kondhwa Khurd, was arrested on the spot.
In addition to Sheikh, three hotel waiters were also booked for their alleged involvement in the illegal activity. All four have been charged under Sections 4A and 21A of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2018.
The said work has been carried out by a team of Police Inspector Wahid Pathan, Sub-Inspector Madan Kamble, Police personnel Prithviraj Pandule, Pramod Tilekar, Kanifnath Karkhile, Umakant Swami and Shekhar Kate on the instructions and guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Shailesh Balkawade, DCP (Crime) Nikhil Pingle and ACP (Crime 2) Rajendra Mulik.
The accused and the seized materials have been handed over to Market Yard Police Station for further investigation and legal action.
