29 April,2014 07:28 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
The arrests were made for violation of deadline to serve food and liquor; 56 customers questioned
Pune Crime Branch officials raided the Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) premises on Sunday night and arrested two staff members for violating norms related to permissible timings for serving liquor and food. A total of 56 customers, including 14 women and 12 foreign nationals, were questioned by the police, and subsequently released.
RIOTOUS REVELRY: The police had received many complaints from residents of Koregaon Park about people creating a nuisance on the streets after they emerge from the HRC premises. File Pic
Hotel manager Swar Mendu Roy (37) from Wanawadi, and employee Sumant N Datta (34) from Vimannagar have been booked under sections of the Bombay Police Act. Police Inspector Sunil Tambe and Police Inspector Bapu Kutwal conducted the raid, along with 50 cops. The raid was planned after Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Naiknaware received a tip-off from an informer.
Senior officials from the Crime Branch said that Hard Rock Café is an international brand and they charge customers Rs 1,500 as entry fee. The police had received many complaints from residents of Koregaon Park about people creating a nuisance on the streets after they emerge from HRC premises, especially on Saturday and Sunday nights.
PI Tambe said, "The customers were let off after questioning, as the hotel has all mandatory licences and liquor permits. Action was taken against the staff, as they were found violating the norms regarding time limit to serve food and liquor."
A spokesperson from HRC Pune said, "HRC maintains strict compliance to all regulations enforced by state authorities across all its outlets. We will continue to work with police to ensure all those laws are strictly adhered to within our venues."
