E-Paper
4 years after ban on dance bars, 796 'barbalas' held in Mumbai
Despite Maharashtra government's efforts to completely shut down dance bars, police have arrested over 700 girls and rescued 276 minors from bars and restaurants in Mumbai and its suburbs during the past four years.
Despite Maharashtra government's efforts to completely shut down dance bars, police have arrested over 700 girls and rescued 276 minors from bars and restaurants in Mumbai and its suburbs during the past four years.
A total of 1,742 people -- including 796 'barbalas' (bar girls) -- were arrested between September 2005 and May 2009 besides rescuing 276 minors from different bars and restaurants across the metropolitan and its suburbs, the Mumbai Police said in response to an RTI query.
The arrests were the results of about a hundred searches conducted in more than 60 restaurants. Police also seized Rs 1.01 crore during the searches, the reply said.
In an RTI application, Mumbai resident Chetan Kothari asked police to provide information on the number of dance bar owners who were prosecuted or punished after the state government banned dance bars in Maharashtra in 2005.
Kothari also asked them to provide details of searches (raids) conducted and arrests made during the past seven years besides others.
A total of 26 such searches were conducted between January and May 11 this year and 276 people, including bar girls, bars or restaurants owners, hotel managers, artists and others, were arrested, the reply said.
