The One8 Commune pub in Bengaluru, owned by former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, is once again under legal scrutiny. The Cubbon Park police have registered a suo motu case against the establishment for violating the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA).
The case, filed under Sections 4 and 21 of COTPA, pertains to the pub’s failure to maintain a designated smoking area within its premises. The violation came to light during an awareness and enforcement drive conducted by the Bengaluru police on World No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31.
This is not the first time One8 Commune has faced legal issues. In July 2024, the pub was booked for operating beyond the permissible hours. According to the FIR filed on July 6, the establishment was found open at 1:20 am—20 minutes beyond the mandated 1 am closing time for such businesses. The Cubbon Park police had then charged the pub’s manager under Section 103 of the Karnataka Police Act, which deals with penalties for violating public order regulations. Similar actions were taken against three other pubs at that time.
Further, in December 2024, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) had issued a notice to One8 Commune for operating without a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Fire Department—another mandatory requirement for running such establishments.
Repeated violations have raised concerns about compliance at One8 Commune, which is among the city’s popular nightlife spots. Authorities have indicated that further inspections and potential penalties may follow as investigations continue.