Nagpur Crime Branch raids The Fusion Cafe in Sitabuldi, seizes hookah items worth Rs 32,505
Police say hookah flavours, pots and cash were seized on October 13 from a cafe accused of serving banned tobacco products; two people have been identified.
The Nagpur Crime Branch raided The Fusion Cafe, which operates in the Sitabuldi police station area, and seized hookah flavours, hookah pots, cash and other related items. The total value of the seized material has been put at Rs 32,505.
The action took place on October 13, 2026. Police had received a complaint that banned tobacco products were being served to customers visiting the cafe. A Crime Branch team then reached the spot and carried out the raid.
According to a police press release, the raid was conducted between 8 pm and 10.30 pm. The Fusion Cafe is in Nagpur's Dharampeth area on West High Court Road, near Shankar Nagar Chowk. It operates on the first floor of the building housing the Anand Bhandar restaurant.
Police have identified two people in the case. They are Vikrant Bhagwat Shinde, 27, a resident of Isasani in Nagpur, and Shubham Sunil Vaidya, 24, a resident of the Rana Pratap Nagar police station area in Nagpur.
The hookah flavours, hookah pots, cash and other items seized by the Crime Branch team are alleged to have been linked to this activity. The total seizure has been valued at Rs 32,505.
According to the police press release, Sections 4(a), 5, 7, 20, 21 and 24 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) have been invoked in the case. Sections 33(w) and 131 of the Maharashtra Police Act and Section 272 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita are also included.
The entire operation was carried out under Nagpur Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil. DCP (Crime) Deepak Agrawal provided guidance, and the team was led by Police Inspector Bharat Kshirsagar of the Anti-Narcotics Squad.
Police have said that similar action will continue across the city against the alleged sale and supply of banned tobacco products.
