Pune: Four arrested for ‘sale, home delivery of hookah pots and tobacco products through online ad’

An investigating team conducted a technical analysis of mobile phone numbers displayed in the online advertisement.

A police team laid a trap and nabbed three persons at Talab Chowk in Lulla Nagar, Kondhwa area. Police identified them as Meet Vijay Oswal (19) of Wanavdi Bazar, Royal Jayram Madhuram (28) of Lulla Nagar, Kondhwa, and Parmesh Mahesh Thakkar (24) of Bhavani Peth.

According to police, the three accused were delivering hookah. During a search, police seized six hookah pots, six tobacco-flavoured packets, four mobile phones and other items, all worth Rs 84,100.

During further probe, police arrested the main accused, identified as Pratik Vikas Mehta (28), a resident of Dhankawadi area. Police seized a hookah pot, tobacco-flavoured packets and other items worth Rs 63,000 from him.

A case was registered at the Kondhwa police station under relevant sections of the IPC, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, and the National Disaster Management Act and the Epidemic Diseases Act.