Hookah party busted, 8 minors rounded up

The police also learnt that along with food and liquor, the attendees will be served hookah and drugs; acting on the tip-off, a team of four policemen, led by police sub-inspector Kumbhar, raided the party venue, a private villa in Sector 9 of Airoli. The police had also sought assistance from the forensic team to do the needful, in case it was necessary. When the police reached the spot, they stopped the ongoing party and found there were a total of 62 participants, including nine girls and eight minors.

The Forensic team immediately took samples of the attendees to check if any drugs were consumed. The police concluded after the initial investigation that drugs were not circulated at the party; nor did the attendees test positive on use of narcotics.

The police, however, seized hookah pots and flavours served by the party organisers and arrested Patil for serving liquor to minors. Serving of hookah was banned by the Maharashtra Government last month. Patil has been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Bombay Police Act, Bombay Prohibition Act, Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) and Juvenile Justice Act.

PSI Kumbhare said, “There was no untoward incident reported in the raid and all the party attendees were let off with a warning. The parents of the minors were called in at the police station and given custody of their wards.’’