Pune: Police Raid Leads to Confiscation of Hookah Materials Near Lonavala’s Tiger Point
Lonavala, 8th July 2024: On 30th June, five members of the same family died after being swept away by the overflowing waters of Bhushi Dam near Lonavala in Pune District. In response, Pune Rural Police and the Lonavala Municipal Council have implemented strict measures to prevent such incidents in Lonavala and other parts of Maval Taluka. Authorities are taking action against those violating tourism rules and sellers of banned products like hookah and hookah materials. This crackdown has resulted in the confiscation of Rs 2,500 worth of illegal goods and action against two sellers at Lonavala’s famous Tiger Point.
A complaint about the sale of illegal products was made by Forest Officer Vedika Ramrao Shirshe (age 32) at Vadgaon (Maval) Police Station. A case has been registered against Mangesh Nandu Karale (age 25, resident of Khandala) and Rakesh Ganpat Ware (age 25, resident of Khopoli) under Section 223 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA, 2003).
According to police reports, authorities received information about illegal products being sold near Lonavala’s famous Tiger Point. A team from Pune Rural Police conducted a raid, confiscating items dangerous to humans and banned by the government, including hookah glass pots and packets of hookah flavours from Royal Smoking Company, all worth Rs 2,500. Police Constable Gale from Lonavala Rural Police Station is further investigating this matter.
This action was taken under the guidance of Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Pankaj Deshmukh, Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chopade, and Assistant Superintendent of Police Satyasai Karthik, by the team from Lonavala Rural Police Station, including Kishore Dhumal, and Police Constables Jay Pawar and Siddeshwar Shinde.
