Vivek Oberoi booked under Tobacco Act

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi and 23 others have been booked under the Tobacco Act following a surprise check in a restaurant at suburban Vile Parle, where cops stumbled upon hookah smoking, the use of which is banned in public areas, police said today.

The 35-year-old actor, who is incidentally the ambassador for World Health Organisation's anti-smoking movement, denied smoking hookah but a probe will find the truth, police said.

During a round up, a social service team of Mumbai police had visited Mabrook restaurant located in Sahara Hotel on Wednesday night.

Vivek Oberoi and 23 others have been booked under the Tobacco Act following a surprise check in a restaurant.

Customers at the restaurant were found smoking shisha, which is a blend of molasses, fruit and tobacco, police said. Around 15 hookahs were seized and all the customers were rounded up. Vivek requested the cops to let him go as he did

not smoke, police said.

However, all the customers including Vivek have been booked under section 4 R W (21) of Tobacco Act. The probe will reveal who smoked hookah among them, Deputy Police Commissioner (Enforcement) B G Shekhar said.

Restaurant manager Jagdish Patoshi was booked under sections 394, R W (471) of the BMC Act and section 4 R W (21) of Tobacco Act, Shekhar added. The actor was not immediately available for comment.

Meanwhile, Vivek's father Suresh Oberoi denied all the allegations levelled against his son. "He does not have tea or coffee.. so the question of drinking and smoking does not arise. The allegations are not true," Suresh told PTI.

"He is the brand ambassador for WHO's anti-smoking. He is against smoking. In fact, he is the one who prevented me from smoking," he added.