Tejas Navale

Pune: After the Kalyaninagar car accident case, the issue of restaurants, bars, and rooftop hotels that are illegally supplying alcohol to minor children came to the fore. Further, Kasba Assembly Constituency MLA Ravindra Dhangekar accused the State Excise Department of taking bribes from bar owners in order to prevent them from facing legal action. Dhangekar also read out the names of police officers in the excise office who were involved in this bribery scandal.

After that, the State Excise Department, along with the Municipal Corporation and Police, took action on the illegal bars that remained open late at night and those hotels and restaurants that were sidelining the rules and regulations of the state government.

After it was noticed that bars and hotels were constantly violating the rules, the excise department launched aggressive strike campaigns against such establishments. Under this campaign, the District Collector has ordered action against rooftops, resto bars, and pubs that do not follow the rules. After that, the report of the action was submitted to the collector, Dr. Suhas Diwase.

Regarding this action, Collector Dr. Diwase informed, “Last financial year, the state had proposed action against 19 pubs that violated the rules within the city limits. The Excise Department had received orders in this regard. This year, that number has increased to 63 pubs. Accordingly, action orders have been issued against 82 rooftops, restaurants, bars, and pubs so far."

He also informed that so far, the state excise department and the municipal administration have temporarily suspended the licenses of 63 rooftops, resto bars, and pubs for violating rules, serving alcohol to minors, not following the timings, etc.