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Gurgaon News - 2004

Serving liquor past midnight: Gurgaon bars face the music

Gurgaon : GURGAON bars and restaurants have been hit by Haryana Excise and Taxation Department and police.

The department , which carried out a series of surprise checks over three days, has challaned 10 bars and restaurants for allegedly serving liquor after midnight.

‘‘The raids conducted between June 18-20 focused on the bars located inside the various shopping malls and commercial complexes along the MG Road,’’ said Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner Wazir Singh. ‘‘All those who have been challaned will be sent a showcause notice and will have to appear personally for a hearing at Chandigarh,’’ he added.

Haryana extended the deadline from 11 pm to midnight in its latest Excise Policy (2004-2005).

The owners, however, say they were not violating any rules. ‘‘The timings allow us to operate till midnight and we strictly adhere to that. But if a customer is sitting in the bar finishing his food and drinks after 12, you cannot just force him out. That is what happened that day. Excise officials found people who had been served drinks before midnight, sitting there and finishing the same,’’ said Sunny Sarid, owner of Charcoal and Cafe Sound of Music. Both Charcoal (restaurant-cum-bar in The Metropolitan Mall) and Cafe Sound of Music (a bar at JMD Regent Plaza), which were raided during the drive. Cafe Sound of Music has been challaned. Some bars in DLF City Centre Mall and Sahara Mall were also raided.

Police’s involvement has also sparked a controversy. Manbeer Choudhary, president of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Northern India and Hotel & Restaurant Association of Haryana, said he has sent a representation to the Excise Commissioner complaining against ‘‘harassment to restaurateurs’’.

‘‘On one hand, the government is projecting Gurgaon as a destination-point while on the other, such measures are being adopted to harass our community,’’ said Choudhary.