After a video went viral on social media, showing some persons with a drug-like substance at Liquid Leisure Lounge (L3) bar in Pune, the authorities swung into action and made multiple arrests. In the latest development, the Maharashtra Excise Department arrested 6 waiters of L3 bar, located on Fergusson College Road in Maharashtra's Pune city.
So far 14 people have been arrested in the case, while four cops have been suspended.
Eight arrested by Pune Police
Earlier, the police had arrested eight individuals, including the owner of the bar and suspended four police personnel after the bar was found operating beyond the permissible time limit.
The eight persons arrested by police were identified as Santosh Kamthe, Vitthal Kamthe, Yogendra Girase, Ravi Maheshwari, Akshay Kamthe, Dinesh Mankar, Rohan Gaikwad, Manas Mallick, were remanded in police custody till June 29 by a court here, the official said.
Patrons invited through social media
During the proceedings, the prosecution cited the viral video and told the court that the accused had given narcotic-like substance to its patrons in the hotel and they wanted to probe the issue further. The prosecution also told the court that prima facie, it has been found that the accused used social media to invite patrons to the hotel to consume narcotics substances, alcohol and smoke cigarettes. It also added that police want to probe these customers to trace the youths as well as a minor seen in the viral video.
Meanwhile, the police revealed that one of the accused Akshay Kamthe, who was the event manager, had invited patrons to L3 through social media platforms and WhatsApp. He had accepted entry fees through online and cash modes which need to be investigated. Additionally, the police told the court that it collected samples from the toilet of L3 and sent the samples to examine the presence of drugs. Shivajinagar police station confirmed that the samples were collected from the toilet commode and its cover.
Pune Police also told the court that they wanted to send blood samples of the arrested persons to examine if they had consumed drugs.
CM Shinde directs to make Pune drug-free
Taking cognisance of the matter, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday spoke to Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar and directed strict action against the illegal pubs. CM Shinde asked him to bulldoze all illegal structures linked to the drug menace. He also directed renewed action against peddlers to make Pune, a drug-free city.
"Strict action should be taken against illegal pubs to make Pune city drug-free. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has given instructions to Pune police commissioner Amitesh Kumar that bulldozers should be moved on illegal constructions related to drugs," said the CMO statement. Earlier on June 24, some members of Patit Pavan Sanghatana allegedly pelted stones at the bar and damaged the board and plant pots kept outside the establishment, a police official said.
(With PTI Inputs)
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