Cops seize alcohol worth Rs 37k in Uttan

MUMBAI: Sleuths of the Thane (rural) police on Saturday raided a beachfront hotel in Uttan, which was selling alcohol and serving hookah with tobacco-laced cakes to customers without a permit.

While the owner of the establishment identified Manish Bhardhwaj (38) was taken into custody, a case under section 65 (E) of the Prohibition Act and relevant sections of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003 has been registered. Acting on a tip-off, about liquor being illegally stocked, sold and served at a hotel in Uttan, a police team under the supervision of ASP Atul Kulkarni, swooped down on Café Serene near Borniwadi at around 4.30 pm on Saturday and seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) of various brands amounting Rs 37, 246.

The eatery was also found to be serving hookah to patrons, police said.  With the excise wing playing blind to such illegal activities, this establishment is amongst several other establishments including -  dhabas on the highway in Kashimira, beachfront cafes in Uttan, Gorai and small time eateries which have transformed themselves into watering holes sans the mandated licenses.