Midnight swoop on discotheque in Punjab

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 12

The police have booked the owner of Walking Street Club, a discotheque, and one of its staff members for illegal detention of party revellers, disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant and illegal sale of liquor meant for sale in Chandigarh.

The accused have been identified as Sajan Mahajan and Akshay Kumar. According to the police, a dance party was on at the discotheque even after the deadline of 12 midnight on Saturday when the police arrived at the site.

Mohali DSP (City II) Ramandeep Singh, who was present at the spot, said seeing the police, the staff of the club fled after locking its main entrance from outside to show that the club was closed. “We saw a number of cars in the parking area and when we went to the rear side of the club, we heard loud music following which the owner was called up,” said the DSP.

He said the club entrance remained locked for at least one hour with the party revellers inside the premises.

After opening the gate, the police allowed the revellers to go and searched the club. They recovered around 30 bottles of scotch and beer that were meant for sale in Chandigarh only. “We have booked the accused under Sections 188 and 342 of the IPC and under the Excise Act at the Sohana police station,” said the DSP.

Not the first case

This is the second time the club owner and staff have been found violating the norms. According to Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra’s orders,  no discotheque/club is to remain functional after midnight. Earlier, a case under Section 188 of the IPC was registered against the accused on July 22.