Nagpur: The Nagpur Rural Police’s Local Crime Branch raided illegal hookah parlour operating at Atmosphere Hotel in Gondkhairi, on the Nagpur-Amravati Highway, on October 18. Two men were arrested and banned flavoured tobacco and hookah equipment worth ₹10,500 were seized.

The arrested accused have been identified as Anshuman Daniel Topno (42), a resident of Hill Top, Nagpur, and David John Phillips (34), a resident of Jaripatka.

According to police, the Local Crime Branch team was patrolling the Saoner subdivision when an informer tipped them off about a hookah parlour allegedly operating at Atmosphere Hotel under Kalmeshwar police station limits.

Acting on the information, the team raided the hotel and allegedly found the two men operating the parlour. In the presence of independent witnesses, police seized flavoured tobacco of various brands, prohibited in Maharashtra, along with hookah-smoking equipment. The seized material was valued at ₹10,500.

A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 4(c) and 21(c) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). Both men have been arrested, and further investigation is underway.

The operation was conducted under the guidance of Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police Harssh A. Poddar, Additional Superintendent of Police Anil Mhaske and Saoner Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sagar Kharde. The raid was led by Police Inspector Ankush Mane, in-charge of the Local Crime Branch.