Mumbai: Police raids dance bar, arrests 22 and rescues 10 women

The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police arrested 22 persons, recovered around Rs 94,000 in cash and rescued ten women after it raided a dance bar in the city in the wee hours of Saturday. Acting on a tip-off, the ANC raided Kaka Bar and Restaurant located at Laxmi Narayan shopping centre on Poddar Road in Malad East. The girls working as bar dancers were found to be performing on a makeshift dance floor at the time when the team raided the premises.

'A safe house for shady elements'

"The bar is notorious for being a 'safe house' for shady elements who claimed to be working as 'police informers'. ANC arrested 22 persons including - 14 customers, 5 stewards and waiters, the supervisor, manager and the cashier," DCP Shivdeep Lande said. Following the raid, a case has been registered with Dindoshi police station under Sections - 294, 114, 34 of IPC read with sections 3, 8(1)(2)(4) of Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscenity in Hotels, restaurants and bar rooms and Protection of Dignity of Woman Act 2016.

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Thane police raided a ladies bar in Kashimira

In a similar incident last month, Thane (rural) police raided a ladies bar in Kashimira late night. Acting on a tip-off about vulgar activities, the police team raided Hotel Sarang, a live orchestra bar located bang opposite the police station and apprehended 11 people including the manager, waiters and soliciting customers of the shady establishment. The raid was conducted by the Anti Human Trafficking Wing under the supervision of Deputy SP Shashikant Bhosale who heads the Bhayandar division.

While four women were rescued in the raid, a case under section 3, 8, (1) (2) of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women Act- 2016 was registered against all the accused. As per the provisions under the new law, the accused can be sentenced to five years imprisonment and fined up to rupees 25 lakh, police said.

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(With ANI inputs)