51 held after raid on ‘hookah bar’ in Pune

As per the instructions of Additional Commissioner of Police (North Zone) Prakash Mutyal, the raid was conducted by police teams that were not from Vimannagar police station. Mutyal said the local police station was not kept in the loop as they anticipated that the information might be leaked.

Due to this, a police team was formed from Bhosari and Mundhwa. They raided the premises of ‘Dhuaa — the kebab hut’ around 3 am, based on a tip-off from a local social worker, and arrested the owner, Nitesh Baban Tupe, 12 staffers and 30 men and nine women customers — most between 20 and 28 years of age.

Mutyal told The Indian Express: “The people who ran the place had no permit, even for the restaurant. We have booked them under the Bombay Prohibition Act… (and) seized the liquor and hookah.” When asked if any action was being taken against the owner of the building, Mutyal said: “We are finding out who owns the place and on what basis it was rented.”

All 51 arrested people were produced before court on Sunday and granted bail. A medical examination of the customers was also conducted, results of which are awaited.