It's voting day and also a dry day on Tuesday for the state of Maharashtra. But liquor flowed freely at this restaurant at the International airport. This is not all, the restaurant, which also operates a hookah bar, did not even have a permit to sell liquor.
It's voting day and also a dry day on Tuesday for the state of Maharashtra. But liquor flowed freely at this restaurant at the International airport. This is not all, the restaurant, which also operates a hookah bar, did not even have a permit to sell liquor.
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When MiD DAY reporters visited the Royal Classic restaurant at the international airport near the Air India parking, it seemed like any other restaurant operating in the night. It was only after making discreet enquiries with the waiters, did the reporters realise that the liquor from the best of brands could be consumed at the restaurant itself, provided you were ready to pay the price.
On further enquiries, the reporters were ushered into an air-conditioned room inside the restaurant, where already few customers were taking a swig of their drinks.
When asked about the drinks, the waiters narrated a long list of brands available with them, which ranged from a Baccardi, Signature, Old Monk and Smirnoff among others. The reporters placed an order for a quarter bottle of Baccardi at a cost of Rs 450, which was finally negotiated at Rs 400.
Within minutes of placing the order, a brand new bottle of Baccardi was placed before the reporters. However, the waiter was reluctant to keep the bottle of liquor on the table for long and wanted it hidden.
The reporter asked the waiter why limited brands are available for the day and he replied, "These are the brands usually in demand so we only keep this if someone asks for other we get it from nearby wine shop."
Furthermore, the waiter also claimed that he could procure a bottle of Red Lable at Rs 2200 and Rs 2600 from the Customs. "I have to manage it from the customs department at the airport."
Meanwhile, few other bars were also operating till 1.30 am on Tuesday. Sanjog Bar at Borivali (East) confirmed that they were open till 1.30 am, one of the staff of the bar said, "We closed the shutter just around two."
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