Bombay High Court to Hear Plea Against Police Actions on Herbal Hookah Restaurants

Strategic Insights -

Twelve restaurant owners in Mumbai serving herbal and tobacco-free hookah have approached the Bombay High Court against visits by police officers without notice and threatening the restaurants to shut down and stop serving herbal hookah. The petioners claimed that such actions were being taken despite the HC verdict of August 2019 which permitted restaurants to serve herbal hookah and the same was complied with by the owners. A bench of Justices Shree Chandrashekhar and Manjusha Deshpande was hearing a plea by 12 restaurant owners argued through advocates Rajendra Rathod and Dhruv Jain.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Bombay High Court is set to hear a plea by 12 restaurant owners against police visits and threats to shut down their establishments for serving herbal and tobacco-free hookah.
  • The petioners include owners/operators of Ustaadi at Crawford Market, The Nest in Bandra, Rustico in Fort, and Faham restaurant in Kala Ghoda among others.
  • The restaurants have been following a High Court verdict from August 2019, which permitted them to serve herbal hookah.
  • The petitioners claim that police actions are causing huge monetary losses and affecting the earning capacity and livelihood of their employees.
  • The plea seeks direction from the court to the respondent police authorities to not enter the restaurants without following due procedure and to comply with the August 2019 order.

Statistics:

  • 12 restaurant owners have approached the Bombay High Court against police actions.
  • The HC verdict permitting restaurants to serve herbal hookah was issued in August 2019.
  • The June 6, 2025 circular of the home department to police has been cited as the reason for the police actions.
  • The petitioners have suffered huge monetary losses and are facing threats to their livelihood.

Sources:

  • Bombay High Court
  • Consultant Advocate Rajendra Rathod
  • Consultant Advocate Dhruv Jain

Note: The sources are mentioned exactly as they appear in the original text, without any embellishments.