MUMBAI: The shutters were down and front-facing lights switched off at Oshiwara Link Plaza on Link Road, when a police team decided to check on the La Habibi Cafe & Lounge in Andheri (east) early on Sunday.
They walked in through the kitchen and found at least 22 patrons, including four women, having hookah. In the raid carried out around 1.10am, Oshiwara police booked the 22 patrons and 11 staffers, after the establishment was found running beyond the stipulated time of 11.30pm that is permissible during the pandemic. The 29 men were released on bail, while the four women were served notices under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The owner of the hookah parlour is wanted in the case.
This was the second raid carried out in the western suburbs in a week after the state imposed night curfew a week ago.
The raid was carried out after additional commissioner of police (west) Sandip Karnik supervised a special team led by assistant inspector Girish Chavan. “The team found students and officegoers with herbal hookahs. BMC officials will be informed for further action,” said an officer.
Meanwhile, Sahar police registered an FIR against former India cricketer Suresh Raina, singer Guru Randhawa, model-actor Zulfikar Syed and interior designer and actor Hrithik Roshan’s ex-wife Sussanne Khan, and 30 others, for alleged violations of Covid-19 protocols at a birthday party celebration at an Andheri club. The women were let off with notices.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/22-patrons-11-staffers-booked-as-cops-raid-hookah-parlour-in-mumbai/articleshow/79984473.cms
