Pune: Hookah Parlour Raid Information Leak: Additional CP Manoj Patil Suspended Probationary PSI for Alleged Tip-Off to Hookah Bar Owner
Pune :
The nexus of police officers and criminals in the city is a matter of intrigue for many in Pune. Last year, former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and Shiv Sena leader Sushma Andhare accused police officials of associating with bar owners in Pune in the Kalyani Nagar hit-and-run case. After that, a shocking incident has come to light from Pune, where probationary Police Sub Inspector (PSI) of Wanwadi Police Station gave inside information of police to the owner of the Hukkah parlour.
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar ordered raids on hookah parlours in the city. After that, the probationary police sub-inspector Vishal Pawar provided that information to the owner of the hookah parlour. In this regard, Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil has taken a suspension action against the accused police official.
There are 11 restaurants within the limits of the Wanwadi Bazar police post in which hookah parlours are operating currently. In this regard, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and Deputy Commissioner of Police Dr. Rajkumar Shinde had ordered action against these restaurants. Accordingly, police took action.
During the raid at the Vijeta Rooftop Hotel in Lulla Nagar, police seized the mobile phone of hotelier Rahul Surekha Jainsinghal to see if any other information regarding the hookah parlours was available. During the check-up of his call history and WhatsApp chat, police found shocking information. In his call history, police saw a phone call between Jainsinghal and the accused probationary PSI Vishal Pawar on December 26 at 8:43 p.m.
During the investigation of Jainsinghal, he informed that Vishal Pawar had called him on December 26, informing him of a possible raid on his hukkah parlour. Further, he informed police that he was paying Rs 20 thousand each month to Vishal Pawar.
Vishal Pawar has been working as a probationary police officer since January 24, 2024. He was released from Wanwadi Police Station on December 1, 2024, for training. Police informed that on December 26, 2024, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had sent a message to a senior officer’s WhatsApp group, stating that illegal hookah parlours were operating in the police station limits of Wanwadi, Kondhwa, Kalepadal, Lashkar, Koregaon Park, and Viman Nagar in Pune city.
After that, the accused Vishal Pawar, who was training at State Reserve Police Force Group No. 2, sent that message to Rahul Jainsinghal, warning him of possible action on his hookah parlour. Further, it is also seen that Marshal Harichandra Pawar, who was on leave on December 26, made a WhatsApp call to Rahul Jainsinghal, the owner of Hotel Vijeta. Therefore, Additional Police Commissioner Manoj Patil has suspended Vishal Pawar from service.
