E-Paper
Bar owners to move court against liquor ban
They alleged that the government did not give enough time to them to look for alternative business avenues, causing them huge financial losses.
Bar owners in Bihar decided on Thursday, to move the Patna High Court against the complete ban on the sale of liquor in the state. They said in a meeting that the government did not give enough time to them to look for alternative business avenues, causing them huge financial losses.
Shailesh Kumar Singh, owner of Liquid Lounge bar, filed a petition in the high court.
“This is an arbitrary step. The state government had issued licences to all bars selling IMFL (Indian Made Foreign liquor) on March 16 for a period of one year against the payment of `16 lakh. But suddenly, a ban on liquor sale was announced. What will now happen to our investment?” Sinha asked.
The bar owner said he had invested more than Rs 1crore in the outlet post his return from Nigeria a few years ago.
“I had believed there was growing business environment in Bihar and invested in the lounge. I had even taken loan for it. Now, I feel totally disillusioned. We are not against the liquor ban, but the state government should have given us time to look for alternative avenues to sustain our family and those of our staff,” he rued.
