8 persons held, 4 cops suspended as bar operates past deadline in Pune

PUNE: Eight person were arrested and four police personnel suspended after a bar in Pune was operating past the allowed time limit on Sunday.
According to the police, the bar was operating until 5 am on Sunday, selling liquor beyond the permissible time limit. In Pune, bars and pubs are allowed to remain open only until 1.30 am.
"We have arrested eight persons, including owners and employees of the Liquid Leisure Lounge (L3) after it came to light that the establishment was operating beyond the permissible time limit on Sunday," Pune Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar.
The arrests were made under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Maharashtra Police Act, Maharashtra Prohibition Act, and the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, he said.
In connection with the case, four police personnel, including an inspector, an assistant inspector, and two beat marshals from the Shivajinagar police station who were on night duty, have been suspended. The authorities are also investigating a viral video that allegedly showed some individuals with a substance resembling drugs at the bar.
Pune MP and Union minister Murlidhar Mohol stated in a post on X that in addition to the immediate suspension action, the police commissioner has been directed to initiate a dedicated drive against narcotics and allocate separate manpower for it.
He emphasized that "All colleges, pubs, hotels and other suspicious places should be searched with strict action. Police have been instructed to go to the root to see how drugs are available in the city."