Bhubaneswar: Hookah bars in the city have now come under the scanner of the Commissionerate Police over allegations of sale and consumption of cannabis, tobacco and similar types of contraband items.
A joint team of Commissionerate Police, Excise department and Directorate of Drug Control Administration conducted simultaneous raids on three such joints operating inside a mall in Saheed Nagar area.
During the raids, the teams collected several samples of hookah suspected to be laced with nicotine and tobacco.
Police sources said that after necessary forensic examination of the collected samples, recommendations will be sent to the administration which may include cancellation of trade license of the concerned bars.
It may be noted that the Commissionerate Police in coordination with Excise department has been frequently taking action against hookah bars in Infocity, Saheed Nagar, Kharvel Nagar and Chandrasekharpur areas of the city under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.