Ranjit Mahanti
THE crime diary at Sakinaka police station reveals that OPA Bar & Café in Mumbai has faced Police action 21 times. Amazingly, the bar has remained operational and these actions did not affect the illegal and nefarious activities of the bar owners. The bar continues to run, taunting Mumbaikars and giving two hoots for Law and Order (L&O) and the Mumbai police.
On October 2, 2017 Sakinaka police gave a letter to social activist Amit Tiwari giving details about the times police took action on the illegal establishment. Since 2016, police took action 21 times, both for illegal activities as well as running beyond the permissible time limit. Police had also written to ‘L’ ward, BMC and production department in Chuna Bhatti for further action. Shockingly, the bar continues still continues to run, showing a complete disregard for the Police Department and Enforcement Agencies.
OPA Bar & Café situated at Peninsula Grand Hotel, Lokmanya Tilak Nagar, Sakinaka, Mumbai is owned by Karunakar Shetty, his son Gaurav Shetty and Satish Shetty. The café has no requisite licences like public programme licence, performance licence, fire brigade NOC and entertainment licence IPRS. ABI (abinet.org) published several articles exposing the café but they had no impact on the owners of OPA pub or Mumbai police, which was once praised as India’s Scotland Yard. In turn pub is allowed to run till 6 am without any obstacles.
On Tuesday there is MODEL night special at OPA. Youngsters enjoying music and dance with cigarettes, liquor, drugs and Russian girls. This proves that OPA owners have pocketed Mumbai police, BMC and politicians. Even café’s liasoner Parbat Shetty claims he can do anything. He even gave a contract to eliminate ABI editor Akela.
“Sakinaka police did its formalities, took action on diary. It is shocking if police takes action on an illegal establishment for 21 times, then how is establishment still running beyond time limit. Drugs are being served. Shame !,” said Amit Tiwari.
Its clear case of police working in hand in gloves with this mafia.. Its shocking why higher police authorities didn’t take any action against local police yet..