Bollywood News: In a surprise midnight raid at the Mabrook restaurant in Vile Parle on Thursday, police officers from the Social Service (SS) branch rounded up 23 people for allegedly smoking hookahs, the use of which is banned is public areas.
Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi and two of his friends were also among those caught in the raid. However, Oberoi, who is an ambassador for the World Health Organisation’s anti-smoking movement, denied the allegations stating that he was not smoking but had just come to the restaurant to meet his friends.
Based on a tip-off, a team of cops led by ACP Vasant Dhoble entered Mabrook restaurant located in Sahara Hotel at midnight. Around 23 people present in the restaurant were smoking shisha, which is a blend of molasses, fruit and tobacco. Customers made a mad scramble for the exit when they noticed the police, but were barred from leaving. Fifteen hookahs were seized and the 23 people were rounded up.
Actor Vivek Oberoi, who was among those present, asked the ACP to let him go stating that he had not consumed tobacco. When the police refused, he told them that the incident would tarnish his image as he was part of an anti-smoking campaign. The police then warned him against interfering in their investigations.
After the raid, the police took down contact details, addresses and statements of the 23 customers after which they were allowed to go. The restaurant’s manager, Jagdish Patoshi, 31, was booked under sections 394, R W (471) of the BMC Act.
When contacted, DCP B.G. Shekhar (Enforcement) confirmed the incident saying, “Investigations are on. Every customer named in the FIR filed by the SS branch will be called for proper questioning. A case under section 4 R W (21) of Tobacco Act has been registered.”
An official from the Sahara Star Hotel denied having any knowledge of the incident. “Nothing of this sort has happened to my knowledge. Selling of hookahs is banned and we don’t resort to such activities in Sahara Star,” said Rajesh Mohan, head strategy manager of the Hotel.
Despite repeated attempts, Vivek Oberoi remained unreachable. However his father, Suresh Oberoi, said, “My son does not smoke or drink, he is the anti-tobacco ambassador appointed by the UN. We have received a letter of apology from the hotel for the inconvenience caused to my son.”
