Under the Stars, or Under Scrutiny? Mira Road's Rooftop Hookah Dreams Go Up in Smoke

Late on a Tuesday night, as most of Mira Road was winding down, an entirely different scene was playing out high above Kashigaon. You see, what some considered a casual, clandestine gathering spot—an illegal hookah parlour, to be precise—was suddenly bathed in the harsh glare of police flashlights. It seems the Kashigaon police had a date with destiny, or rather, with an illicit operation at the aptly named Forest Rooftop Hotel.

In a swift, decisive operation, our dedicated men and women in uniform descended upon this rooftop establishment. The time? Somewhere around 11:30 PM, just as the night’s revelry, however unsanctioned, was likely reaching its peak. And the target was clear: an illegal hookah parlour operating quite brazenly, it must be said.

Honestly, the scene must have been quite something. Five individuals found themselves in an unexpected predicament, now facing the music for their involvement. This included the hotel manager, a couple of staff members who perhaps thought themselves invisible, and two customers, caught rather unfortunately in the crossfire. They've all been taken into custody, and rightly so.

But the arrests weren't the only outcome. Oh no. The police, ever thorough, also seized a veritable treasure trove of contraband. We're talking hookah pots, a significant quantity of flavored tobacco—the kind that makes those distinct, often cloying, plumes of smoke—and, of course, the essential charcoal needed to keep the whole operation going. The total haul? A not-insignificant Rs 41,000 worth of material, now safely impounded.

And so, the legal wheels begin to turn. Charges have been filed under Sections 285 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code, alongside relevant sections of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). It’s a stark reminder, isn't it, that even under the guise of a rooftop view, the long arm of the law eventually catches up. This wasn't just a bust; it was a clear signal to those who believe they can operate outside the rules: your time, it seems, is well and truly up.