Pune: Illegal Hookah Parlour Busted on Terrace of Dhanakwadi Housing Society; Five Booked
Dhanakwadi, 11th February 2026: Pune Police have uncovered an illegally operated hookah parlour running from the terrace of a residential building in Dhanakwadi and registered a case against five persons, including the building owner.
Sahakarnagar Police carried out the action on February 9 following a tip-off about an unauthorized hookah setup on the terrace of Gurunanak Krupa Building in Rajmudra Housing Society. The premises are reportedly owned by the main accused, who had recently shut down a hotel business elsewhere in the city.
Police have booked the following individuals:
Rajsingh Bhajansingh Gorowada (35) – Building owner and alleged operator
Paras Parmanand Sharma (24) – Waiter, originally from Nepalgunj, Nepal
Subhash Mansingh Giri (20) – Nepal
Tilak Bhola Tiwari (35) – Nepal
Narayan Meghe Acharya (34) – Nepal
Acting on instructions from senior officers, a police team reached the third-floor terrace and forced open a wooden door to enter the premises. Inside, officers found a hall with six tables arranged, where eight customers were allegedly consuming hookah at four tables.
During a search of the kitchen and service area, police seized hookah pots, chillums filled with flavoured tobacco mixtures, and related materials collectively valued at ₹12,495.
A case has been registered at Sahakarnagar Police Station under Sections 123 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with relevant provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Maharashtra Amendment) Act, 2018.
Senior Police Inspector Vitthal Pawar stated that Gorowada had previously operated a hotel near Swargate, which was recently shut down. He allegedly began running the illegal hookah parlour on the terrace just four days before the police raid.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of senior city police officials, including Additional Commissioner Rajesh Bansode and DCP Milind Mohite. The team included PSI Ganesh Karche, officers Saddam Hussein Fakir, Bapu Khutwad, and other personnel.
Police have said that strict action will continue against illegal hookah parlours and unauthorized tobacco-serving establishments, particularly those operating in residential areas.
