Ahmedabad’s local authorities made a significant bust on October 29, targeting an illegal hookah operation at Cherish Café, located near the Zundal Garnaala. Acting on a tip-off, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) raided the establishment after receiving credible information that nicotine-laced hookahs were being served instead of herbal flavors. Customers had been lured in for profit.
The raid has sparked serious questions about law enforcement’s effectiveness in the area. It seems that not just one, but four officials were involved in running this illegal business without informing their superiors—one of whom is reportedly a retired police officer. How could this have gone unnoticed?
During the operation, police apprehended Abdul Hamid Sheikh, the café operator residing at Panna Residency in Sarkhej, alongside four workers from Assam: Rizwan Ali, Ainul Islam, Dilwar Hussain, and Majid Alam. They found quite an array of materials related to the operation—10 hookahs valued at ₹15,000 and numerous pipes and other equipment totaling ₹62,100 were seized.
Local Concerns Raised
This incident raises broader issues regarding local policing and regulatory oversight. Residents are questioning whether similar illicit activities will continue unchecked or if authorities will take more decisive action moving forward. Could it be that only external agencies like SMC are willing to tackle these matters?
What’s next? The Chandkheda police station has registered a case under number 172/2026 and plans to initiate further legal proceedings.