7 arrested for running illegal hookah bars, flavours worth Rs 12.5 lakh seized

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Despite the orders from Kar nataka Health Department banning the use and sale of both tobacco and nontobacco hookah in public establishments across the state, the police found several places operating illegally in the city.

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police conducted raids on such hookah bars in Bengaluru and arrested seven people.

The raids were conducted in Mahalakshmi Layout, HAL, and KR Puram police stations.

The CCB police seized Rs 12.5 lakh worth of hookah flavours and other products from raided locations.

According to police, around 20 hookah bars were operating illegally in the city even after the state government banned them earlier this month.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda in his review meeting on Tuesday expressed concern over the illegally operating hookah bars and directed the officials to take strict action against them.

An effort is on to identify more such places and book cases against them, the police added.