Partying in Capital’s pubs and discos, beyond the permitted hours, has drawn the attention of police which on Saturday night cracked down at a star hotel in Unit III area of the City.
A police team raided Underground, Hotel Hindustan International’s pub and disco, where over 50 persons, including three foreigners, were partying at about 12.30 am. The revellers were asked to produce identity proofs in support of their age as well as driving licences. The foreign nationals, police sources said, reside and work in Bhubaneswar. All the party-goers, including son of a minister and two Odia film actors, were asked to submit undertakings before police allowed them to go.
Underground has permit to operate till 11 pm but since the party was running well beyond the notified hours, it has risked a notice. Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh said the hotel will be served a showcause notice on permit cancellation.
The late-night partying in pubs and discos came under scanner after an incident of firing outside ‘The Rain’, located along Cuttack Road last week.
Interestingly, while police claim that the curfew hours start from 11 pm, Excise officials say bars have permits to run till 11.30 pm whereas hotels say they are allowed to run till mid-night.
The City Police have asked all its police stations to keep tabs on pubs and discos and their timings. Currently, Bhubaneswar has 50 bars and seven of them have pub licences for music and DJ programmes.
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