HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Following a tragic accident on May 19, in which a speeding Porsche allegedly driven by a 17-year-old boy killed two IT professionals, the Pune Excise Department has sealed 32 liquor-serving establishments in the district over five days, significantly impacting Pune’s nightlife. Owners and workers from the hospitality industry gathered on May 24 at Ram Bahadur Mills to lead a silent march protesting the suspension of their licenses.
The march highlighted the industry’s plight, with many employees at risk of losing their jobs. The sentiment at the protest was one of unfairness, targeting the Pune Excise Department, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), and Pune Police for their sweeping actions.
“We have been following the rules set by the government. But the accident has led them to cancel the licenses of all the clubs. We agree that the establishments involved in the accident were at fault and that action should be taken against them but why is the entire industry being made to suffer for it? How will our homes function?” said the manager of Elrow Club, Kalyaninagar.
Another club manager from Di Mora echoed similar concerns, pointing out that the industry had already suffered during the pandemic and now faces another crisis due to the actions of a few individuals.
The protesters argued that continued closures could render nearly 60,000 people jobless, including disc jockeys, bartenders, and bouncers who rely on the city’s nightlife for their livelihood. “Why are we at fault? If these establishments are shut down, who will support their families, who will pay their bills? Instead, give us proper guidelines to ensure that this does not happen again. Let these establishments run,” said Abhinav Girdhar, aka DJ Faith, a popular artist in Pune’s clubs.
Police halted the silent march due to the lack of necessary permissions, warning that legal action would be taken against the protest organizers for not following public protest regulations.
