Pune: Action Taken Against 21 Hookah Bar Operators By Pune Police

Pune, March 18, 2021: As many as 21 hoteliers operating in Koregaon Park, Mundhwa, Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar, and Kharadi have been arrested by the police. 

Police have also warned that action will be taken against them by revoking the hotel and liquor sales license if hookah services are resumed. 

Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta has taken serious note of these hookah bars and ordered all senior officers to take action against the hookah bar. 

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Yerwada division) Kishor Jadhav informed that the police along with the Excise Department took action against hotel ‘The Theka’ in Kalyani Nagar and confiscated liquor and hookah materials.

Senior Inspector Dilip Shinde of Koregaon Park police station instructed the hotel operators in Koregaon Park to close the hookah parlor in writing, while the Excise Department and Yerwada Police station took joint action against the ‘The Thekha’ and ‘Blur’ hotels in Kalyani Nagar. 

ACP Jadhav informed that he had written to the State Excise Department to cancel the license of the hotels.

Six hotels in Viman Nagar, three in Kharadi, and seven in Yerwada have been ordered to close their hookah bars. If they resume hookah services, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will inform the Excise Department to revoke the hotel’s license, ACP Jadhav said.

One crore rupees saving per year

The hookah available in hotels cost Rs 100 to Rs 150 for different flavours and drugs, while hookah smokers pay Rs 900 to Rs 1,000. The cost of other foods and drinks is additional. Therefore, if a hookah bar is running at hotels located in Hinjawadi, Kalyani Nagar, Viman Nagar or Koregaon Park, one can easily earn Rs 1 crore per annum, said the manager of a hotel in Viman Nagar, explaining the math to a big customer.