Mumbai, June 2025 – In a major crackdown, Mumbai Crime Branch officials raided an illegal hookah parlour in Juhu late last night, detaining a total of 45 people—including five young women—and registering cases under multiple legal provisions.

Discovery and Arrests

At around 1 a.m., Mumbai Police’s Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) raided the rooftop lounge, where patrons were being served hookah. Officers found that at least 30 customers were partaking in tobacco-laced hookah smoking. The establishment was operating without any valid licence, in clear violation of city regulations instituted after the tragic 2017 Kamala Mills blaze.

A total of 45 individuals were taken into custody—comprising staff, management, and patrons. Among them, five were young women in their early twenties, all of whom now face charges. The CIU also seized hookah paraphernalia including pipes, charcoal, tobacco mixtures, and multiple flavouring agents.

Legal Action

The accused have been booked under:

• Various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),
• The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA),
• The Disaster Management Act, which enforced the hookah ban post the Kamala Mills fire.

Officials emphasized that hookah parlours have been strictly proscribed within Mumbai’s municipal limits following the rooftop fire disaster in 2017, which claimed 14 lives.

Safety Concerns

Authorities expressed alarm over the use of charcoal heaters and enclosed space setups—both serious fire hazards. The rooftop venue lacked any proper fire safety certifications or equipment, prompting fears of repeat incidents. City regulations firmly prohibit unauthorized structures atop buildings, particularly due to their vulnerability to rapid fire spread .

Wider Context

Since the Kamala Mills tragedy, Mumbai Police have consistently targeted illegal hookah dens. Multiple establishments have been raided in Andheri, Bandra, and other suburbs since 2021. Notably, a similar rooftop operation in Andheri in February 2021 resulted in 42 people being booked under the same statutes.

What’s Next?

All 45 detainees have been charged and are undergoing legal proceedings. Investigators are examining the hookah lounge’s ownership chain, regulatory breaches, and whether its patrons posed broader public health or safety risks. Officials also plan to study fire safety compliance more rigorously to prevent any repeat of past tragedies.

Why It Matters

• Public Safety: Enclosed hookah parlours, especially without proper fire measures, are high-risk zones.
• Legal Enforcement: Despite bans, illicit hookah operations persist, highlighting gaps in oversight.
• Policy Reminder: The Kamala Mills fire remains a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in Mumbai’s nightlife spots.

New Delhi, June 19: The first flight carrying 110 Indian citizens, including 90 students from Jammu and Kashmir, arrived in New Delhi after being successfully evacuated from Iran, on Thursday, amid the escalating military conflict in the Middle East.

All the Indian nationals were flown to Delhi on IndiGo flight 6E 9487.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, welcomed the evacuated students at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, media reported on Thursday.

India launched Operation Sindhu, a mission aimed at ensuring the safety and evacuation of Indian nationals from Iran.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Wednesday evening that Indian students residing in Tehran were safely evacuated from the city through coordination by the Indian Embassy.

“Indian students in Tehran have been moved out of the city for safety reasons through arrangements made by the Indian Embassy,” the Ministry said in their official statement.

The Indian students left Zvartnots International Airport in Yerevan, Armenia, via a special flight at 14:55 IST on June 18, with their expected arrival in New Delhi during the early hours of June 19.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal announced through Twitter, “Operation Sindhu begins. India launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate Indian nationals from Iran. India evacuated 110 students from northern Iran who crossed into Armenia under the supervision of our Missions in Iran and Armenia on June 17.

This is part of the many steps that the Indian government has taken over the last several days for the safety and security of Indian nationals stuck in Iran and called for help in view of the deteriorating situation due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Indian government said that it is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for the smooth facilitation of the evacuation process.

“India accords highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad. As part of the ongoing operation, the Indian Embassy in Iran has been assisting large numbers of Indian nationals in moving from areas seeing increased hostilities to relatively safer areas within the country and to subsequently evacuate them using the available and feasible options,” the MEA said.

The MEA advised Indian nationals in Iran to stay in touch with the Indian Embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline, and with the 24×7 Control Room established by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill. Abu Asim Azmi has sent a letter and a draft to the Secretary of the State Assembly, demanding the passing of the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill, which prohibits religious hatred including insulting important persons, religious places, holy places and blasphemy and has demanded strict legal action and law against its perpetrators. He said that the Anti-Religious Hatred Bill should be passed in the monsoon assembly session so that strict action can be taken against those who spread religious hatred in the state. He has drawn attention in his letter that in the case of religious hatred and insulting important persons, attempts are also made to incite communal violence and spoil the atmosphere. In such a situation, the Anti-Religious Hatred Law and Bill should be passed and banned. Azmi has also sent a private draft to the Secretary, suggesting action against those who spread religious hatred and insult important persons. This bill was passed in the same session. Azmi has strongly demanded this.