Bengaluru’s One8 Commune Pub Owned by Virat Kohli Booked for Not Having Designated Smoking Area

Bengaluru Police have registered a suo-motu case against One8 Commune, the upscale pub and restaurant owned by cricketer Virat Kohli, for violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA). The case was filed on Monday under Sections 4 and 21 of the Act after a surprise inspection by the Cubbon Park Police revealed that the establishment, located on Kasturba Road, lacked a designated smoking zone as mandated by law.

The inspection, led by Sub-Inspector Ashwini G., was conducted following a tip-off. Despite being only 200 meters from the police station, the pub failed to provide the required smoking facility, resulting in the manager and staff being booked for non-compliance.

This is not the first regulatory issue faced by One8 Commune. In July last year, the same police station filed an FIR against the pub for operating beyond permitted hours and playing loud music, following complaints from local residents. At that time, One8 Commune was one of three venues in Bengaluru's Central Business District penalized for such violations.

In December, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) issued a notice to the pub for operating without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department and for lacking essential fire safety measures. This action followed a complaint by a social activist and an inspection by BBMP officials from the Shantinagar zone. Despite warnings, the pub failed to comply, leading to repeated notices and threats of legal action.

In response to recent violations, authorities have launched an awareness campaign urging shopkeepers and commercial property owners to obtain necessary licenses from BBMP for selling tobacco products. Officials have warned of strict action against those ignoring tobacco-related regulations.

The COTPA law requires all restaurants and bars to maintain separate smoking areas to protect non-smokers in public spaces. As investigations continue, One8 Commune remains under scrutiny for repeated regulatory breaches, raising concerns about enforcement and accountability at celebrity-owned establishments.