‘OPA!’ pub does roaring business without a single licence

But then who needs permissions when police and BMC are in your pocket?

BELIEVE it or not, a Right To Information (RTI) reply has revealed that ‘OPA! Bar and Café’ in Sakinaka has no requisite licences, like public programme licence, performance licence, fire brigade NOC and entertainment licence IPRS. Amazingly, the pub has remained active and gives two hoots for the BMC, law and order or the Mumbai police department. On January 20, 2017, the Sakinaka police station replied to Amit Tiwari, president, student wing of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Mumbai.

The 29-year-old Tiwari is a resident of Sakinaka. Last month he submitted an RTI application with the Sakinaka police station, demanding information along with supporting photocopies of the licences given to ‘OPA! Bar and Café’. The Sakinaka police station replied that ‘OPA Bar and Café’ did not have any licences, whether it was public programmme licence, performance licence, fire brigade NOC or entertainment licence IPRS.

Other violations
The OPA Bar and Café is also violating all other rules.
1- It runs till 5am.
2- It runs hookah parlour.
3- Terrace and basement have been occupied for illegal activities.
4- Patrons enjoy music and dance with cigarettes, liquor, drugs and girls, and all this without ever fearing action from the police.
5- Normally entry for discotheque is free in Mumbai, but OPA Bar and Café management charges Rs 2,000 to 4,000 per person.

OPA is situated in Peninsula Grand Hotel, Sakinaka junction, Andheri (East). A four-star Hotel, Peninsula Grand (OPA Bar and Café) is owned by Karunakar Shetty and son Gaurav Shetty. A person, Parvat Shetty, is manager. True to his designation, he is an expert in managing all things. Rudra Rajparia organizes events. Karunakar Shetty also runs hotels in Dubai and is very influential with contacts in the BMC, the police and the political sector. Some politicians and BMC and police officers, even IPS, are on his payroll (ABI has names). That’s the reason why OPA is running in full swing and no department dares to take action against it.

On December 25, 2016, a 25-year-old girl was molested inside OPA bar. The owners are so influential that the Sakinaka police station registered only a non-cognizable (NC) complaint in the matter.