Nagpur: Continuing their citywide drive under ‘Operation Thunder – Together for a Drug-Free Society’, the Pachpaoli Police have booked two individuals for illegally operating a hookah parlour at Hammers Café & Restrolounge, located at Kamal Chowk.

Acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a late-night raid between 11:30 pm on October 13 and 3 am on October 14, 2025, on the fourth floor of the establishment. During the operation, the accused — Ranjit Sevagram Koche (36), a resident of Tekanaka, and Jonty Solomon Felix (26), a resident of Martin Nagar, Jaripatka — were caught red-handed serving tobacco-based hookah products to customers.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo had been running the hookah parlour illegally for personal monetary gain. The police seized hookah pots, tobacco flavours, and other related materials valued at around ₹13,500 from the premises.

A case has been registered at Pachpaoli Police Station under Section 274 of the BNS, along with Sections 5, 7, and 20 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, as amended by the Maharashtra Amendment Act, 2018.

The action was carried out under the guidance of DCP Rahul Madane (Zone 3) and ACP Shweta Khade (Lakadganj Division), led by Senior PI Baburao Raut, PSI Ranjit Majgaonkar, and their team. Further investigation is underway.