Hookah parlour murder: Police arrests 6, BMC may cancel parlour’s license for violating norms
The 26-year-old was stabbed following a scuffle between two groups at Royal Smoke Sheesha Lounge in Goregaon (Inset: Mayur Panchal, Courtesy: The Free Press Journal)
BMC officials on Tuesday demolished part of a hookah parlour in Goregaon, where a clash between two groups led to a youth’s murder earlier this week.
The action comes two days after a 26-year-old was stabbed following a scuffle between two groups at Royal Smoke Sheesha Lounge in Goregaon (W).
Meanwhile, civic officials have noted that the parlour flouted license norms by staying open till 6 am, against the permitted 1:30 am deadline. A report of the same has been forwarded to the licensing authority, who is likely cancel the establishment’s license.
While locals have alleged that authorities knew about the parlour and its late working hours, officials have denied the claims. Local politicians also took up the issue of the illegally operating establishment with DCP Rathod.
The Incident:
Mayur Panchal, who used to work as a salesman in a mall in Powai, had gone to Royal Smoke with his friends for birthday celebrations around 4:30 am on Sunday.
At the parlour, one of Panchal’s friends accidentally pushed a person sitting on the adjacent table, which led to an argument between the two groups. The establishment’s bouncers forced both groups to leave the premises, post which a scuffle broke out on the outside.
During the altercation, an unidentified person from the other group hit Panchal in the abdomen with a sharp weapon.
He was rushed to Cooper hospital for treatment, but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
The members of the other group, meanwhile, fled the spot.
Arrests:
Following the incident, Goregaon police registered a case under section 302 (punishment for murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and rioting was registered against unknown persons.
Five bouncers were arrested immediately after the incident. Anwar Ali Shaikh (25), who was with the other group, was arrested from Bandra on Tuesday.
In custody, Shaikh revealed the identities of his other friends.
Two of them have criminal records, while another, Swami Jawle, is the son of a college professor. Cops are already in the process of arresting them.
At the moment, all accused have been booked under a common charge and police are yet to disclose the name of the main accused responsible for stabbing Panchal.
