Pune: Kondhwa Police Raid Illegal Hookah Parlour Operated by Former Minister’s Son
Kondhwa, 31st August 2024: Police raided an illegal hookah parlour operating in a hotel in the Kondhwa area yesterday. The hookah parlour is owned by the son of a former Minister of State for Home Affairs, and a case has been registered against five individuals, including his son.
The accused include Baker Ramesh Bagwe (36, resident of Lohianagar, Bhawani Peth), Haroon Nabi Sheikh (25), Bikram Sadhan Sheikh (25), Amanat Anwar Mandal (22), and Amanat Anwar (24), all residents of West Bengal. A case has been filed against them at Kondhwa Police Station. Baker Bagwe is the operator of the hotel, while the other four are employees. Tobacco hookah flavours and nine glass hookah pots, worth ₹23,500, have been seized.
Baqir Bagwe is the son of former Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ramesh Bagwe. The Kondhwa police received a tip-off that illegal hookah was being served at the hotel “The Village” on NIBM Road. Acting on this information, Senior Police Inspector Vinay Patankar of Kondhwa Police Station, along with Police Inspector (Crime) Mansingh Patil and their team, raided the hotel on Thursday night.
It was discovered that hookah parlours were being operated illegally. The police detained several individuals for questioning and have arrested them. Following this raid, other hotels in Pune have also come under police scrutiny.
Similarly, in May 2021, the Kondhwa police filed an FIR against the son of former Minister Ramesh Bagwe—Baker Bagwe—his manager, and 22 others for violating COVID-19 restrictions at the restaurant-cum-bar “The Village.” Police found 22 people dining inside the establishment after permitted hours, disregarding dine-in bans and social distancing guidelines. Both Bagwe and his son denied the allegations, claiming the individuals were either acquaintances or waiting for parcels. The police took action following the circulation of a viral video of the incident. All 24 individuals involved face prosecution under various legal sections, including disobedience and epidemic-related offences.
