Bengaluru: 7 hookah joints raided, fined

Bengaluru: BBMP officials conducted surprise checks at restaurants in the city on Saturday and were shocked to find many were running hookah bars illegally. Hundreds of teenagers were found smoking hookah in these places.

Officials raided two restaurants in Indiranagar and five others in and around M G Road, Brigade Road and Church Street.

A BBMP official, who was part of the raid, said, “These restaurants were not granted permission under the trade licence issued to them serve hookah.”
For illegally serving hookah, the seven units were slapped fines. The total fine amount was around Rs 8 lakh. All the units were served notices seeking their reply. Based on their reply further action will be taken, the official added.