Nagpur: Continuing its crackdown under “Operation Thunder – Let’s Build a Drug-Free Society”, the Ambazari Police busted an illegal hookah parlour operating under the guise of a café in Ramnagar and booked 31 individuals, including the café owner and manager, for supplying and consuming banned tobacco-based hookah products.
The raid took place around 12:40 am to 1:35 am on October 18, 2025, at “Tamasha Café” located at Bhagwati Heights, Savata Mala, Ramnagar Chowk, within Ambazari Police limits. Acting on credible intelligence, police conducted the raid in the presence of witnesses and caught the accused red-handed.
The arrested include café owner Hemant Rajkumar Gurubakshani (36), resident of L.A.D. Chowk, Nagpur, and manager Amit Prakash Gotamare (21), resident of Telkhamthi, Kalmeshwar. Both were found running the illegal hookah parlour in connivance with 29 male and female customers who were consuming prohibited tobacco substances.
Police seized hookah pots, flavoured tobacco packets, and other equipment worth ₹14,700 from the spot. Investigation confirmed that the accused were running the establishment illegally for financial gain.
A case has been registered at Ambazari Police Station under Sections 274 of BNS, and relevant sections of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, Maharashtra Amendment Act, 2018, and Sections 33(R), 33(W), 131 of Maharashtra Police Act. Further investigation is underway.
The operation was part of the ongoing initiative led by Commissioner of Police Dr. Ravinder Singal to curb drug and tobacco abuse in public places and ensure strict action against violators.
