Nagpur: Acting on a tip-off, police conducted a late-night raid in the Gokulpeth area and busted an illegal hookah parlour allegedly operating under the guise of a café. Four persons, including the café owner and two customers, have been booked in connection with the case registered under Ambazari police station limits.

According to police sources, information was received that Soul Café, located at Coffee House Square in Gokulpeth, was allegedly serving tobacco-laced hookah flavours to customers. Residents in the locality had reportedly raised concerns over the nuisance caused by such activities in the area.

At around 12.15 am on Tuesday, a police team carried out a surprise inspection at the café. During the raid, officers found arrangements made for customers to smoke hookah on the premises.

An offence has been registered against café owner Ritesh Devendra Amale (37), a resident near Royal Palace, along with Sarthak Babarao Pakhale (19) of Shegaon Naka, Amravati. Two customers present at the spot — Tushar Kisan Gharde (20) of Gaddigodam and Piyush Gopal Todsan (24) of Subhash Nagar — have also been booked.

Police sources indicated that several such establishments are allegedly operating in the Gokulpeth area, with hookah services being run discreetly behind café businesses, especially after midnight. Despite periodic crackdowns, some outlets reportedly resume operations within 24 hours of action, raising concerns over enforcement and monitoring.