Nagpur: In a late-night crackdown on illegal hookah service, the Nagpur Rural Police raided two restaurants on Amravati Road and Saoner Road and booked 11 persons, including restaurant owners, for allegedly serving and smoking hookah in public places.

The first raid was conducted at Atmosphere Restaurant in Gondkhairi, which falls under the Kalmeshwar Police Station limits. During the operation, police found several youngsters allegedly smoking hookah inside the restaurant.

Those caught during the raid were identified as Paras Sanjay Jain (28) and Yash Sushil Jain (28), both residents of Itwari; Sanket Someshwar Kale (28), a resident of Sakkardara; and Sahil Rajesh Sankat (28), a resident of Valmiki Nagar, Gokulpeth.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly told police that the hookah equipment had been provided by Mohammad Aslam Khan alias Ashfaq Khan (49), the owner of Atmosphere Restaurant and a resident of Patel Nagar near Dinshaw Factory in Borgaon. Based on the findings, police registered a case against the accused.

In another action, police also raided Drive and Dine (D&D) Restaurant on Saoner Road, where five individuals were found allegedly smoking hookah.

The accused were identified as Kunalsingh Gurvindersingh Mude (33) and Gursimransingh Gurvindersingh Mude (25), residents of Wardhaman Nagar, Bhandewadi; Amrat Singh alias Jasjit Singh Chan Singh Sabharwal (24), a resident of Indora Chowk near Kamptee Road; Ranvir Singh Iqbal Singh Virdhi (34), a resident of Dixit Nagar on Nari Road; and Suraj Rampath Rabde (25), a resident of Patansaongi.

During questioning, the accused told police that the hookah and related equipment had been supplied by Siddharth Agarwal (38), the owner of the restaurant.

Police seized hookah pots and other smoking equipment from both establishments and registered cases against the accused. Officials said the action is part of an ongoing drive by Nagpur Rural Police against illegal hookah service and public hookah consumption in restaurants and hotels.