Pune: Police raid and seal L3 bar for ‘serving’ drugs to minor; two cops under investigation

Raids were conducted after a social media video surfaced showing a couple of minor boys consuming drugs in the restaurant washroom with a rocking party in the background

PGurus Newsdesk

June 24, 2024

Raids were conducted after a social media video surfaced showing a couple of minor boys consuming drugs in the restaurant washroom with a rocking party in the background

Pune Police teams swoop on the L3 bar in the posh Fergusson College Road vicinity

In an all-night operation, the Pune Police raided and sealed a posh bar in the city for allegedly ‘serving’ drugs to minors and also turned the heat on two police officials for purported dereliction of duty, officials said here on Monday.

The Liquid Leisure Lounge (L3) is located in the posh Fergusson College Road vicinity.

Simultaneously, the Pune Police have cracked down on two of its cops, including one police inspector and an assistant police inspector, for alleged dereliction of duty as the establishment falling in their jurisdiction blatantly flouted rules and the cops turned a blind eye to the goings-on right under their noses.

The raids were conducted after a social media video surfaced showing a couple of minor boys consuming drugs in the restaurant washroom with a rocking party in the background, early on Sunday.

Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar ordered a probe and a police team swooped on L3 last night and conducted a thorough search operation after which they sealed the premises early today.

A police official told media persons that as per available information, the establishment would shut down the front entrance at 1.30, but permitted sneak entry from the backdoor, and the partying continued practically till dawn, videos of which leaked out.

The police have also nabbed the L3 owner Santosh Kamthe, franchisee Ravi Maheshwari, manager Manas Malik, and a couple of staffers Utkarsh Deshmane and Yogendra Girafe, who will be produced before a Pune Magistrate court later today, said an official.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the matter was serious and promised stringent efforts to make Pune drug-free as also the rest of Maharashtra.

Newly-elected Pune MP and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar K Mohol said that such incidents were giving a bad image to Pune and assured strong action.

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