Oshiwara cops book manager, staff; latter say girls produced fake ID, term their allegations false
The Hops Kitchen & Bar in Lokhandwala, Andheri West. Pic/By Special Arrangement
Two 15-year-old girls were allegedly served beer at Hops Kitchen & Bar in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, following which they were hospitalised after vomiting excessively and experiencing dizziness. The police have registered a case against the bar’s manager and staff for serving alcohol to minors in violation of the law.
The FIR was registered by Constable Anant Tulshiram Chavan, 31, who is attached to the Oshiwara police station. The incident came to light after Cooper Hospital alerted the Oshiwara police about the condition of the teenagers, who are Goregaon East residents.
According to the police, when Chavan was on night duty — between 8 pm on October 15 and 9 am the following day— he received an intimation from Cooper Hospital around 3.10 am regarding the admission of two young girls who had allegedly consumed excessive alcohol.
The teens had gone to Hops Kitchen & Bar with a 21-year-old man who works as a gym receptionist and another person. In their statement to the police, the girls said they had been residing in Mumbai for the past three years. On the night of October 15, the duo planned to have a party and called two of their friends from Andheri. The four met at the bar around 10.30 pm.
A police officer said, “They ordered starters and beer, and the teens consumed ‘half a glass of beer’ followed by a soft drink. After dinner, the group paid their bill and left for Goregaon. However, while travelling in an autorickshaw, the girls began vomiting and feeling dizzy. Their friends immediately took them to Cooper Hospital, where doctors admitted them around 2.30 am.”
A police officer said, “On the statement of the girls, we have registered the FIR against Hops Kitchen & Bar for serving alcohol to minors, thus violating provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition Act and relevant government regulations. Further investigation is underway.”
Other side
Sagar Sable, the manager of the establishment, told mid-day, “As the girls looked like minors, we asked for their ID cards, and they showed them to us. According to their IDs, they were more than 21 years old, and hence could purchase alcohol. We only served them beer and a fruit-flavoured alcoholic drink. Their friends order vodka and other drinks. Everything was recorded by our bar’s CCTV cameras.
The quartet left the bar at 12.30 am, and the girls were admitted to Cooper Hospital around 2.30 am. We don’t have a system to check Aadhaar cards, but we examine other ID cards. They produced fake ID cards. Our bar is not responsible. Their allegations are fake. The girls were admitted to the hospital almost two hours after leaving the eatery. We are cooperating with the police and providing evidence.”
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