Mumbai: The head of the police station will be held accountable if hookah parlours are found functioning in the area, Anil Deshmukh Maharashtra Home Minister informed the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Replying to a question by Ravindra Phatak of Shiv Sena and others during question hour in the Upper House, the Home Minister said strict action will be ordered against the incharge officer if such parlours were found running in his jurisdiction.

Anil Deshmukh’s announcement came a day after an FIR (First Information Report) was filed at the NM Joshi Marg Police Station in Mumbai against a restaurant and bar at Kamala Mills in Lower Parel area for allegedly violating COVID-19 rules.

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The Minister added that action will be taken after a report on the alleged wrongdoings in the Worli pub incident is received. Earlier, the Maharashtra government had planned to increase the fine for functioning an illegal hookah parlour from Rs 1,000 to Rs. 25,000 and planned to levy a Rs 10,000 fine and six months’ imprisonment for those found smoking a hookah in public.