Mumbai Police Detains Comedian Munawar Faruqui in Illegal Hookah Parlour Raid
Mumbai Police detained at least 14 individuals, including stand-up comedian Munawar Faruqui, winner of ‘Big Boss-17’, in a raid on an alleged illegal hookah parlour in the Bora Bazar area of Fort in south Mumbai. The accused were found smoking tobacco-laced hookahs in violation of the law.
The raid, conducted by the Social Service Branch, took place late Tuesday night and continued until early Wednesday morning. Video evidence shows Faruqui enjoying the illegal tobacco-based hookahs instead of the permitted herbal varieties. The accused were taken to the MRA Marg Police Station and charged under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act and Indian Penal Code, all bailable offences.
After being served with notices, all detained individuals, including Faruqui, were released from custody around dawn. The police seized nine hookah pots valued at around Rs 13,000 along with cash during the operation. Further investigations into the matter are ongoing.
