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barred: Star Night bar at Santacruz where two customers spent    Rs 65 lakh on one bar girl on December 26

The raid on Star Night bar, Santacruz, on December 26, which resulted in the seizure of Rs 11 lakh, also led to the revelation that most dance bars in the city have been functioning with impunity despite the HC ban due to the lack of manpower in the Social Service Branch (SSB).

SSB officials pointed out that they had raided 45 bars in 2008 for violating norms, as compared to 28 in 2007. Confirming this, Senior Inspector R R Joshi said the figures indicate that there has been a sharp increase in the rate of violations despite the deployment of policemen around bars.

Mumbai police had posted around two cops outside bars across the city to ensure that rules were followed.

SSB seizures also revealed that even small-time bar operators were making more than Rs 1 lakh each night. And there is no check to ensure that the money is accounted for, Inspector Joshi pointed out.

900
The number of dance bars across the city

60
The percentage of booty splurged on bar dancers that is generally retained by bar owners