Post 7 pm, this pavement turns into ‘open air bar’

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Despite public drinking being illegal, the pavement outside Asiatic department store turns into an open bar every evening, with large groups drinking in the open till late at night.

However, there is no fear of action from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or the police among the partiers, as there is no official in sight there after 7 pm.

The spot is so popular that it has spawned a secondary business, with nearby stalls and hawkers supplying fried snacks and boiled eggs to those partying there.

According to a report by Mid-Day, even minors were seen consuming alcohol at the spot, which is located near Churchgate railway station.

Revellers buy their alcohol from nearby shops and plastic cups from a stall next to the department store.

A stall owner said, “My shop depends on these drinkers because I provide them with glasses and chakna (snacks), which are a basic re-

Even as locals youths give two hoots that drinking in public is illegal, cops look the other way quirement for them. I have different types of glasses for beer and wine and various kinds of chakna.”

Asked whether the civic body took cognizance of the goings-on in the area, he replied, “The BMC never takes action after 7 pm and business starts in the evening.”

The person manning the boiled eggs stall said, “I come here with 500 boiled eggs every day and they are all sold out by late night. Some drinkers prefer eggs as they are healthy.”

Senior Inspector Nilesh Bagul of Marine Drive police station said, “My team will personally visit this spot and take action. Drinking in public is an offence. We will stop this nuisance.” court held.

“When a law abiding citizen is adopting legal procedure and had gone to the police station to lodge a report, but it has not been taken, then, such person/s deserve to be protected”, stated the court.

The informant, a neighbour of the appellants, alleged that one of the appellants used to look at her in such a manner which would outrage her modesty.

She alleged that the appellant shot video of her house from his mobile at night.

Further, he used to whistle from the terrace, make noises with help of utensils, and blow the reverse horn of his vehicle constantly. According to the FIR, the appellants pelted stones on the complain- ant injuring her and the watchman.

After a special judge had rejected the anticipatory bail application of the appellants, they appealed under section 14-A of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

Taking The Bull By Its Horns

A division bench comprising Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan passed the order on a petition filed by the duo seeking quashing of the ECIR registered against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. In the interim, they asked that no coercive steps be taken against them.

Senior advocates Ravi Kadam and Aabad Ponda, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that there was no predicate offence as required for the ED to investigate the ECIR.

The complaint lodged with the MRA Marg police station, Mumbai has resulted in filing of a ‘C’ summary report by the police, they said.

The counsels further submitted that even the protest petition filed by ED was rejected and the order was confirmed by this HC as well as the SC. Therefore, the ECIR would have to be quashed, they said.

Advocate Shreeram Shirsat for the ED sought time to respond after which the matter was adjourned to January 31.