Pune Porsche Accident: Excise Officials Seal 32 Clubs Amid Heightened Enforcement Drive In Last Two Days
Reported by Sumit Singh & Tikam Shekhawat
Pune/Pimpri Chinchwad, 23rd May 2024: The Pune Excise Department has taken action against 32 clubs in Pune over the last two days. In a crackdown within 24 hours, the department acted against 27 clubs last night, sealing their premises.
Many club owners spoke to Punekar News, expressing their frustration and claiming they were being unfairly targeted, with various departments penalizing them for minor infractions. “Till last week, everything was normal as we regularly ‘greased’ the palms of officials from the excise department, municipal corporation, and police with cash, liquor, and ‘other’ demands. After the unfortunate incident in Kalyani Nagar, they are now behind us. They are recalling all sorts of rules and regulations and taking action,” they said.
The crackdown follows a directive from Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who criticized the Pune State Excise Department for their lax enforcement. This criticism spurred officials into action, although details about the specific locations and times of these actions remain undisclosed. Despite the significant nature of this crackdown, the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad State Excise Department authorities continue to withhold detailed information.
The increased scrutiny on clubs and bars comes after a recent incident where a minor, after partying at two pubs in Koregaon Park area, drove a Porsche car and hit two IT engineers on a two-wheeler. The incident has garnered national attention, prompting Fadnavis to visit Pune to review the police and excise department’s response and order stricter enforcement measures.
Starting Tuesday night, State Excise Department officials conducted an inspection drive and filed cases at several locations. The crackdown revealed that some bars were selling liquor purchased from wine shops, leading to action against establishments, including rooftop and ground-floor hotel bars, where liquor sales are permitted. An establishment has been sealed in Viman Nagar for serving liquor to minors.
The heightened enforcement is reportedly a direct result of the Home Minister’s daily inquiries about ongoing activities. However, there are concerns that these actions are superficial, as authorities have not provided clear details on the extent of the enforcement. The number of hotels selling liquor has notably increased in areas such as Viman Nagar, Kalyani Nagar, Koregaon Park, Kharadi, Baner, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Bhosari, Chakan, Hinjawadi, Talegaon, Dehuroad, and Bavdhan.
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Additionally, several highway dhabas and city hotels are reportedly selling liquor without the necessary licenses from the State Excise Department, a situation that appears to be overlooked by the department officials.
