Pune: Acting on a tip-off, the police raided an illegal hookah parlor operating at Billions Lounge, a hotel on Gangadham Road, and arrested three individuals for offering hookah without proper authorization.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Bharat Devappa Gawade (33), Dipendra Manbahadur Khadka (30), and Siddharth Singh Ashok Kumar Singh (22), all residents of Upper Indiranagar in Pune.

The raid took place on Saturday at 5 p.m. near the Aai Mata Temple on Gangadham Road in the Market Yard area. Police constable Prithviraj Pandule lodged a complaint following the action.

According to the police, Unit 5 of the Crime Branch received reliable information about unauthorized hookah services being provided at the hotel. After confirming the details, a team conducted a raid, uncovering illegal hookah pots and tobacco-based flavors such as Afzal, Alfakher, and Alkiyan being sold without a license. The case is being investigated by Assistant Police Inspector Sisal.

Recently in October 2024, Bharati Vidyapeeth police uncovered illegal sales of alcohol and beer, along with open hookah smoking, at 7 Miracle - Lounge & Restro near Daripul. The police acted swiftly after discovering that these activities were being conducted without proper licenses.