Bengaluru police registered 651 cases during a late-night enforcement operation targeting pubs, bars, dance bars, clubs, hotels and restaurants across the city, while also intensifying traffic checks and action against drunk driving. The operation was conducted on Friday night, with Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh personally inspecting some pubs and clubs.
According to a report by Prajavani, police teams inspected 843 pubs and bars, 42 dance bars and clubs, 53 entertainment venues, and 522 hotels and restaurants. Several establishments, including pubs on Brigade Road, were searched for violations. Police said venues operating beyond the permitted time were made to close.
The operation covered compliance with operating hours and other rules governing entertainment venues. The commissioner warned that pubs and restaurants must shut by 1am and said action would be taken against establishments that continued operating beyond the prescribed time.
The police also established checkpoints on major roads and inspected 2,584 two-wheelers, 692 three-wheelers and 748 four-wheelers. Of these, 187 two-wheelers and two three-wheelers were seized, according to officials cited in the report. The traffic wing separately checked 8,780 vehicles during the operation.
Cases were registered against 113 drivers for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. Police also registered 364 cases against motorists travelling in the wrong direction on one-way roads and 34 cases against vehicles being driven without number plates. A total of 114 vehicles were seized in connection with the traffic enforcement, officials said.
The 651 cases included 292 minor cases, 355 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, three cases under the Excise Act and one case under the Karnataka Police Act. Officials said investigations were under way against those found violating the rules.
The enforcement action also included scrutiny of complaints about minors being allowed into pubs and, in some cases, being employed at such venues. Singh said the police were monitoring social media as part of the operation and that the anti-rowdy squad established on the directions of the home minister was active.
“Public safety, women’s security and maintenance of law and order are major priorities for the police department,” an official said, according to the report. The police commissioner said entertainment venues would face action if they violated the law, while establishments operating within the legal framework would not face objection from the department. The police did not announce a separate deadline for completing the investigations arising from the operation.
