Pune: Pune Excise Department Seizes Illegal Liquor from L3 Pub Following Viral Drug Video

Shivajinagar, 25th June 2024: The Pune State Excise Department has seized illegal liquor stock from L3 – The Liquid Leisure Lounge pub. This follows a viral video on social media showing a group of youths consuming drugs in the washroom of the L3 Pub. Political accusations were made, heavily targeting Maharashtra Excise Minister Shambhuraj Desai, who promised action. Consequently, on 23rd June, the Pune State Excise Department took action and also suspended the license of Hotel Rainbow.

After the video went viral, officials from the Pune Excise Department investigated L3 – The Liquid Leisure Lounge pub. While the Pune Police conducted an independent investigation into the drug case, the State Excise Department found an unlicensed stock of liquor. Six accused have been arrested, and goods, including 241 liters of foreign liquor worth a total of Rs 3 lakh, have been seized.

Additionally, action was taken against Hotel Rainbow on the ground floor of the same building, owned by Santosh Vitthal Kamathe. It was discovered that the Liquor Sales License had been approved, but there was a change in the approved map of the license, creating a secret passage to the first and second floors. Due to this serious violation and internal changes in the license office, the license was immediately suspended and sealed by order of the Pune Collector. One inspector and one sub-inspector of the Pune State Excise Department have been suspended for showing laxity.