In a major pre-New Year crackdown, the Maharashtra State Excise Department conducted a surprise raid on a popular pub in Pune's upscale Viman Nagar area, leading to legal action against dozens of individuals for participating in an alleged illegal liquor party.
Early Morning Raid at Airport Road Pub
The operation unfolded in the early hours of Saturday when a team led by Atul Kanade, Superintendent of the State Excise Department, Pune, stormed into The Noir pub located on Airport Road. Acting on specific intelligence, the officials reached the venue around 5 am to find a party in full swing, allegedly violating excise norms.
Superintendent Kanade stated that the party was being conducted illegally. The excise team promptly initiated proceedings against all individuals present at the scene.
Widespread Legal Action and Arrests
The department took stringent legal action against a total of 52 persons found on the premises. This included 42 party attendees, comprising both men and women, who were booked for their involvement.
Furthermore, the excise officials lodged offences against ten managers of the pub who were overseeing the operations. Of these, two managers have been remanded to judicial custody by a local court following their arrest. The authorities have launched a search for the main accused, Amarjeet Singh, who is the owner of the pub.
Substantial Seizures and New Year Vigilance
During the comprehensive raid, the excise team confiscated a significant haul of items from the pub. The seized materials included furniture, a sound system, computers, a laptop, and approximately 178 bottles of foreign liquor. The total estimated value of the confiscated items is Rs 3.67 lakhs.
This raid is part of a broader vigilance drive launched by the excise department in anticipation of New Year's Eve celebrations. With intelligence inputs suggesting numerous night parties are being planned across the city, the department has proactively constituted 21 flying squads. These special teams have been tasked with identifying and taking action against any illegal liquor parties or violations in Pune during the festive period.
The crackdown sends a strong message to establishments and revellers about the department's zero-tolerance policy towards flouting excise laws, especially during celebratory seasons when such violations typically see a spike.
