31 held from Andheri bar for obscenity

The social service branch (SSB) of the Mumbai police raided a bar in Andheri east on Sunday evening and arrested 31 persons on charges of obscene behaviour.

The social service branch (SSB) of the Mumbai police raided a bar in Andheri east on Sunday evening and arrested 31 persons on charges of obscene behaviour.

HT Image

The SSB also charged the owner, who is yet to be arrested, of playing music without valid permission, said the police.

The SSB raided the premises of Sai Darshan bar and restaurant located on the Parsi Panchayat road in Andheri east around 6.50pm on Sunday. “We found the bar girls dancing in an obscene manner and being encouraged by the customers in the bar. The owner and the staff were fully aware of what was going on,” said senior police inspector Arvind Sawant from the SSB. “Following this, we arrested 31 persons including12 bar girls, manager Santosh Shetty, 50, along with the watchman, cashier and 16 other persons. We also seized 500 notes of 10-rupee denomination from the bar,” added Sawant.

The accused were then handed over to the Andheri police station where they were arrested under section 294 (obscene acts and songs) of the Indian Penal Code. The police are on the lookout for the owner of the bar identified as one Sushila Shetty, 75, said Sawant.