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 checking thousands of vehicles for traffic and drunk-driving violations.
The operation was conducted by teams from different police divisions on Friday night. City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh personally inspected some pubs and clubs, including establishments on Brigade Road, according to the report. Police said venues operating beyond the permitted hours were shut down during the checks.
The operation covered 843 pubs and bars, 42 dance bars and clubs, 53 entertainment venues, and 522 hotels and restaurants. Police teams examined compliance with operating-hour requirements and other regulations at these locations. The commissioner warned that pubs and restaurants must close by 1am and that violations would lead to action.
The 651 cases registered during the operation included 292 minor cases, 355 cases under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, three cases for violations of the Excise Act and one case under the Karnataka Police Act. An officer said investigations into the cases were under way.
The police also set up 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. The traffic division separately checked 8,780 vehicles and registered cases against 113 drivers for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police registered another 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 violations, according to police sources.
The enforcement action also followed complaints about minors being allowed into some pubs and about minors working at certain establishments. Commissioner Singh said the police were monitoring social media and that the anti-rowdy squad established on the direction of the Home Minister was active.
Singh said public safety, women’s security and the maintenance of law and order were key priorities for the department. He said owners and managers of pubs, bars, clubs, hotels and other entertainment venues must comply with the rules, adding that establishments operating within the legal framework would not face objections but those violating regulations would be dealt with. The police said checks and investigations would continue.
