Mumbai: Restaurateurs complain of harassment by cops

A cop sitting inside a dance bar in Andheri at 9.45 pm on March 29

The tussle between the police and owners of orchestra and dance bars, also called ladies' bars, seems to have reached new heights with several owners approaching the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) complaining of harassment by cops. Owners, especially from western suburbs, said cops keep making rounds of their establishments, and sit and sometimes even sleep for hours, which scares off customers. Some even complained that they were forced to shut their establishments much before the 1.30 am closing time.

Dance bar owners further claimed that when they asked the cops, they were told that the cops were following the top cop's orders. However, Mumbai Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey told mid-day that he has not issued any such orders and added that if anybody is being harassed by cops, they can approach his office.

Mumbai has a total of 259 orchestra and dance bars.

A police personnel found sound asleep at a bar in Andheri around 5.48 am on December 20, 2021

‘Scaring off customers'

In the letter to AHAR, orchestra and dance bar owners stated, "The hotel industry, which suffered a lot during COVID-19, is still not able to run even as all the restrictions have been lifted by the Maharashtra government. Although, legally allowed to start orchestra and dance services, we are facing constant indirect hindrance from local law enforcement authorities (police). One such example would be that constables continuously make rounds inside the establishment from 9 pm, and they also take photos of the dancers and singers as well as the premises every 15 minutes, and this affects the business in not one but many ways. It leads to an unnecessary fear in the minds of our customers, which makes them less likely to spend more time or return."

When mid-day reached out to AHAR President Shivanand Shetty about the letter, he said, "I have not read it."

A cop takes a photo of the performers at a dance bar in Chakala, Andheri around 11.34 pm on March 29

A hotelier, who did not wish to be named, said, "The constables start visiting from 6 pm and then sit inside in their uniforms. Some of them even sleep inside the establishment. How are we going to run our business? Isn't it a clear violation of the court order? When we ask, they tell us that the orders are from the police commissioner."

He also shared some photographs and CCTV grabs where cops can be seen sitting and sleeping inside the establishment as well as taking photos of dancers. "They share the photos in their internal group. But what is our crime? Where should we go? There is an order from the Apex court, but the harassment never stops," he added.

A cop sleeps inside an establishment in Andheri at 4.37 am on March 19

When mid-day contacted CP Pandey, he said, "My only concern is that everything should be run as per the law. If there is any violation, we will take action. There is no such instruction to shut any establishment before their prescribed time limits. If anyone is being harassed by local police stations, they can always come to me."

SC order

The letter also cited the February 18 Supreme Court order wherein the court not only allowed orchestra and dance bars to operate till 1.30 but also removed the gender cap of 4 male and 4 female performers set by the Bombay High Court. The Apex court had noted, "It is hereby declared that the condition imposing a gender cap as to the number of women or men, who can perform in orchestras and bands, in bars licensed under the Rules, 1960 and other allied provisions, is void. While the overall limit of performers in any-given performance cannot exceed eight, the composition (i.e., all female, majority female or male, or vice versa) can be of any combination."

Three cops at an orchestra bar in Andheri East at 11 pm on April 2

The owner of a dance bar in Andheri said, "There is a court order and we are abiding by that. And yet, they (cops) come early in the evening and sit near the stage, making both customers and performers uncomfortable. The harassment has always been there, but it has crossed the limits now."

259
No. of orchestra and dance bars in the city

1.30am
Time till when orchestra and dance bar can operate