In the course of working on this article, we are let into a little secret — a popular inside joke among restaurateurs in Mumbai. “If you murder someone, only one policeman will come after you. But if you have a licence issue, 46 policemen will come after you,” chuckles Vijay Mehta*, the owner of a popular restaurant and bar in the city. If you want to laugh along, you need to know the background — according to Mehta, one needs to have anywhere between 30 to nearly 50 licences and NOCs (No objection certificates) in place before one can open a restaurant in the city.

The Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association says that a major shutdown was witnessed in areas from Mumbai Central to Fort. Representation pic only