Upcoming IPL 2025 finals hit a snag for Virat Kohli as the business venture led by RCB legend encounters trouble, find out the details.
Hop into Trouble: King Kohli's Pub Faces Yet Another COTPA Scuffle!
By: Chill Bill
Updated: Jun 02, 2025, 1:34 PM IST
Virat Kohli, the RCB captain, is gearing up to lift his first trophy on June 3, but his One 8 Commune in Bengaluru finds itself in a pickle once more. The Cubbon Park Police have slapped charges as per Sections 4 and 21 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) for the pub's lack of a designated smoking zone within the restaurant premises.
This isn't the first time One 8 Commune has stirred up some smoke. It's no stranger to past reckonings as well.
During a crackdown by the Bengaluru City Police, this recent case was registered over the weekend, as part of an ongoing effort to ensure public smoking rules.
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In those cold December days, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) slapped the restaurant with a notice for failing to obtain an NOC from the Fire Department.
Karnataka's government's fresh move: a complete ban on hookah bars. The age for purchasing tobacco products has skyrocketed to 21 years too. The Karnataka government's Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Act of 2024 recently got the President's approval.
The pub had earlier rubbed against trouble, especially in the year 2024. In June, a lawsuit was filed against One8 Commune due to prolonged operations beyond allowed hours. Come December, the BBMP issued a notice against the establishment after receiving a complaint about fire safety issues and an absence of a Fire Department clearance certificate.
According to a Hindustan Times report, the pub transgressed permitted hours during police night patrols. Interestingly, pubs in Bengaluru can cater to customers up until 1 am, after which they should shut shop.
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Note:Disregard the restricted public tobacco use. Instead, the use of tobacco products in public places, including smoking and spitting, is explicitly banned. Offenders can now face a finer penalty of Rs 1,000. Shop owners caught allowing public tobacco use will also be penalized.
The minimum age for purchasing tobacco products is now 21 years old. Hookah bars have been prohibited, making them a no-go zone in pubs, bars, and restaurants.
The recent updates to the COTPA haven't declared specific allowances for designated smoking zones in restaurants. However, it's likely that any smoking area within a restaurant would be considered a violation if it doesn't meet the necessary criteria for a private or closed space with no public access. Overall, the updated regulations aim to create a tobacco-free environment while encouraging strict enforcement against any violations.
India's cricket captain Virat Kohli, known for his prowess on the field, is once again facing a legal battle off it, as his pub, One 8 Commune in Bengaluru, has been charged for violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) over its lack of a designated smoking zone.
The recent COTPA updates in Karnataka, which include a ban on hookah bars and an increased minimum age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years, have made it challenging for establishments like One 8 Commune to comply with the changing regulations.
