Akela
A Right To Information (RTI) reply reveals that DURU bar in Ulhasnagar has faced 1,510 raids, two FIRs and one MRTP action. Amazingly, the bar has remained active and these actions did not affect the health of the bar owners or the conductors. The bar continues to run, taunting Ulhasnagar residents and giving two hoots for law and order and the police department.
We are talking about the notorious Duru Bar and Restaurant, now known as M/s Swati restaurant, located at Kalani shopping Centre, Nehru Chowk, Ulhasnagar-2, district Thane in Maharashtra. Mahesh Shivram Putharan is the proprietor of Spring Valley Hotel and Restaurant, which runs Duru Bar. The bar’s licences are for running an eating house, public entertainment and orchestra, but the bar functions as a dance establishment.
On December 14, 2016, Deepak Mishra, an advocate practising in Kalyan and Ulhasnagar courts and a resident of Ulhasnagar, obtained this information through RTI. ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation) is in possession of the RTI copy.
The police failed to provide sufficient details about actions on the bar and other details Deepak Mishra had demanded in RTI application. But the RTI reply did reveal that police took action 1,510 times on the bar in the past many years. Two FIRs have been registered. On November 30, 2010, bar owner Mahesh Putharan was booked under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act for carrying out illegal construction inside the bar. On June 18, 2013, Rajesh Shyamlal Kukreja, a well-known bookie, was stabbed to death inside the bar. After the killing of Kukreja, the then zonal DCP cancelled the bar licences.
The view of Honorable High Court
After cancellation of licences the bar partners approached the Bombay High Court demanding licences be
allowed back and alleged the police were unnecessarily harassing them. Observing on the past cases and incidents, on October 10, 2013, Justice SC Dharmadhikari commented, “Establishment has witnessed a ghastly and serious act. The incidents are indicting that if the establishment allowed licences and business there will be a serious law and order problem.” Despite it, the state government allowed licences.
Police officer’s rate…
It should be no matter of pride for any establishment that the police had taken action 1,510 times. But it is an open truth that the police protect the bar
after taking a fixed bribe.The per month rate is:–
1-Senior Inspector: Rs 1 lakh
2-Assistant Commissioner (ACP): Rs 50,000
3-Zonal DCP: Rs 1 lakh
4-Detection Branch (DB): Rs 25,000
5-Night round (peter mobile) police van: Rs 1,000, plus driver Rs 200 and Walkie-Talkie handler Rs 200.
6-The night duty officers are served mineral water, Black Dog whiskey, chicken Manchurian, fried rice and more. Sources said a constable (name with ABI) from the detection branch always sits in the bar to settle any dispute involving customers.
“Duru bar is functioning in full swing till morning 5am, taunting Ulhasnagar residents, police, law & order and Maharashtra government,” said Deepak Mishra.
If asked, the police frequently can claim that bar is not running. For example, bookie Rajesh Kukreja was killed around 2.30 am, but the FIR shows the time of the crime as 1.30 am. But police briefed the media that the incident occurred around 12.30 am. Similarly, two months ago around 5am the bar staff thrashed a boy and robbed his gold chain. The boy approached Ulhasnagar-1 police station to register an FIR but the police settled the matter, returning his gold chain value.
Fed up with the bar’s illegal activities, last month the mob attacked on bar late night. Police was so kind of bar. Instead of registering case on bar police booked mob.
There are three gates to enter in the bar equipped with full security guards. Also there are three cabins here for customers. The first one is for ordinary patrons. The second is usually occupied by businessmen. The third is for bookies, criminals, chain snatchers and police officers. The customers are allowed in if they are regulars. New customers are not allowed.
All illegal activities there are on in full swing.