Cops raid dance bar inside resort in Virar, rescue 15 girls

A total of 35 people have been arrested from the dance bar, which was raided on Thursday night. Pic/Hanif Patel

Acting on a tip-off that an illegal dance bar was being run inside a Virar resort, the local cops raided the premises and arrested 35 people, including 16 customers and staff members, and rescued 15 girls.

The Virar police conducted the raid at Moss Resort on Shirsad-Ambadi Road, Chandip, Near Bapuji Jadhav High School, Vasai-Virar around 10.30 pm on Thursday. The police team included 40 officers.

According to the police, the resort only had permission to run a restaurant and bar, but they were illegally running the dance bar inside one of the halls. An officer said, "We have rescued 15 girls and arrested a number of people, including the resort manager and staff. We have also seized R2.3 lakh cash from the spot. The girls who used to dance at the bar were mostly from Andheri and Mira Road."

"We are checking all the documents related to the resort along with the officials of the department concerned. If anything inappropriate is found, action will be taken accordingly," said senior inspector Suresh Varade of Virar police station.

"We have booked and arrested a number of people for violating pandemic guidelines. The arrested accused were produced before the court. Further investigation is on," he added.