Nagpur: Sadar police raided Hotel Tuli International on Sunday night and allegedly found an unlicensed hookah parlour operating on the premises during an event held without the required permission. Several minor boys and girls were reportedly found smoking hookah in rooms on the hotel’s fourth floor.

Police seized hookah equipment and other materials and registered a case against four persons, including the hotel owner, manager and two event organisers.

The accused have been identified as hotel manager Firoz, event organiser Abid Shafiq Qazi (20), a resident of Nerul, Mumbai, and Alisha Manuwar Cherry (22), a resident of Panvel, Mumbai. The hotel owner has also been booked.

According to police, an event titled ‘Shahar Gulabi’ was organised at the hotel from 6 pm to midnight on Sunday, September 27. Police received information that the event was being conducted without the required permission and that hookah facilities were being provided to guests in hotel rooms.

Acting on the information, Sadar police laid a trap and raided the hotel. During the inspection, officers allegedly found that the organisers did not possess the necessary permission for the event. Police also found several minors smoking hookah in rooms on the fourth floor.

The action was carried out under the supervision of ACP Sadar Division Shivaji Gaikwad and Senior PI Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar.

Rooms used for hookah activity not registered

During the raid, police also found that the rooms allegedly being used for the hookah activity had not been registered as required. A waiter was questioned by the police, following which the alleged lack of room registration came to light.

Police have registered a case against the four accused under Sections 4(A) and 21(A) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and other relevant provisions.