Authorities suspend Bangalore Club's liquor licence; pour cold water on Xmas and New Year celebrations

BENGALURU: The state government might just have thrown cold water on Bangalore Club's Christmas and New Year celebrations. On Tuesday, revenue authorities suspended the Club's liquor licence for a month, incidentally the same duration for which the Club suspended senior IPS officer RP Sharma's club membership.

A little over a week ago, the revenue department issued a showcause notice over violations in serving liquor. Although the club was given 15 days to respond, the authorities clamped down much earlier. Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner V Shankar told ET that the club had not replied to his notice dated November 23.

“In fact, they sought another 15 days to reply. But the club's CL-7 licence has been suspended,“ said Shankar, who is the excise licensing authority by virtue of his position. Club president PV Jayashankar and secretary colonel (Retd) HPM Soans were not available for comment.

The 146-year old club was asked to explain why its licence should not be cancelled after excise sleuths found that liquor was being served through multiple counters, an apparent violation of the club's CL-7 licence. The club has two bars The Men's Counter and the Umbrella Bar. While Umbrella Bar stopped serving liquor sometime ago, the Men's Counter was sealed on Tuesday afternoon, club sources said.

This was followed by raids by the BBMP and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. While the former imposed a fine of Rs 45,000 for running establishments without trade licence, the latter warned the club against playing loud music late into the night. The raid and subsequent action by various civic authorities on the Club ­ much as they seemed like coincidence ­ followed the one-month suspension of IPS officer R P Sharma's membership by the Club's management.

Sharma was suspended after he allegedly manhandled a security guard on the premises. Maintaining that his suspension from the club had nothing to do with the excise raid, Sharma told ET, “The issue has gone too far now. It is a pity that such a prestigious club indulged in violations.“ R Ramakrishnan, a member, flayed Shankar's decision to suspend the club's liquor licence. “It is an extreme step that is against the principles of justice.

The officer could have extended the time, but instead chose to display his high-handedness. The club should move court against the suspension,“ he said.