Maharashtra
Juhu Hookah Parlour Bust: 45 People, Including 5 Young Women, Booked

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.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Fraud: Raigad CGST Officials Bust ₹9 Crore Fake Input Tax Credit Racket; 2 Arrested In Panvel And Dombivli

Mumbai: A team of officers of Anti-Evasion, CGST & Central Excise Raigad Commissionerate, Mumbai Zone have arrested two persons involved in generating and passing on fake input tax credit (ITC) of more than Rs 9 crore by creating fictitious firms and issuing invoices without actual supply of goods/services.
Fake ITC Passed Using Fictitious Firms, Say Raigad CGST Officials
Acting upon intelligence, the team identified the fake firms being operated by the accused to avail and pass on fake ITC. The accused firm availed ineligible credit passed on by non-existent firms registered based on forged documents.
No Actual Goods Supplied, Yet Invoices Issued
The accused firm was found non-operational at the registered principal place of business evidencing no goods received or supplied. Thus, the firm had fraudulently availed/ passed on ITC in violation of CGST Act, 2017.
Panvel and Dombivli Residents Nabbed for Tax Evasion
The investigation revealed that the Directors of the firm, a resident of New Panvel and a resident of Dombivli (W) were actively involved in the fraud of government revenue.
Two Arrested for ₹9 Crore GST Fraud in Maharashtra
Both were arrested under section 69(1) of CGST Act, 2017 for offences punishable under Section 132(1)(b)/132(1)(c) of CGST Act, 2017 and produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panvel. The Court has sent them to judicial custody.
Further investigation is in progress to identify other beneficiaries and operators of this fake invoice racket.
Maharashtra
Good News For Mumbaikars! Now Book Mumbai Local Train Tickets Through WhatsApp; Ticketing Process Made Easier

Mumbai: The Railways aims to improve the local ticketing system’s convenience and is exploring the possibility of launching a ticketing system via a chat-based app such as WhatsApp. Recently, a meeting took place with organisations that are interested in this matter. Officials mentioned that the tender process will be evaluated once all the details are finalised.
Within the framework of the Digital India initiative, the Indian Railways is emphasising on transforming the ticketing system through digital means. As a result, passengers are being offered fast tickets that are cashless. The shift to digital At present, 25 per cent of travellers are reserving tickets via digital methods, and its adoption is growing daily.
In addition to the current digital ticketing system, the Railways is working on a chat-based ticketing solution to enhance convenience in ticketing. Metro travellers favor using WhatsApp for ticket bookings in the metro. Upon scanning the QR code at the ticket window, a chat interface appears.
Upon sending a Hi message, you are presented with options for ticket booking, and afterward, digital tickets can be obtained upon making the payment. 67 percent of metro fares are being reserved in this manner. What difficulties are there? Several factors need to be addressed during the creation of the WhatsApp ticketing system.
Due to the current misuse of the QR-based ticketing system via UTS, caution must be exercised in developing the new system to avoid similar vulnerabilities. We aim to create a system that will be easy for the travelers. Several alternatives are under consideration for this, including the chat-based ticketing system, Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer.
Crime
Mumbai Drug Bust: 24-Year-Old Arrested In Byculla With Mephedrone, Charas Worth ₹3.46 Crore In Car

Mumbai: In a major anti-drug operation, the Mumbai Police arrested a 24-year-old man in the early hours of Wednesday and recovered a large quantity of narcotics valued at over Rs 3.46 crore. The accused, identified as Sahil Junaid Ansari, a resident of Bhiwandi in Thane district, was intercepted while driving through the Byculla area of South Mumbai.
Accused Found Driving Suspiciously In Byculla Area
The incident occurred around 4 am when a team of patrolling constables, Bhabad, Bhoye and Gangurde, spotted a Maruti Ertiga car moving suspiciously near Hume Church on B.A. Road. The team flagged down the vehicle and questioned the driver about his presence at that odd hour. Ansari, however, failed to give a satisfactory response, raising the officers’ suspicions.
Alerted by constable Bhabad, night duty in-charge Police Inspector Anup Dange immediately reached the location with PSI Kolekar, PSI Asade from the Anti-Terror Cell and other detection personnel.
Details On Drugs Found In Car
A detailed search of the vehicle was conducted, during which the police found 1,710 grams of Mephedrone, commonly known as MD, concealed inside. The street value of the seized MD is estimated at Rs 3.42 crore. Additionally, 17 grams of charas worth Rs 4.5 lakh were also recovered from the car.
Police officials confirmed that Ansari has been taken into custody and booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The contraband was seized and sent for forensic examination.
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