The last-minute order from district collector to cancel all police permissions given to party organisers, and a special drive by state excise officials to check liquor licences, played spoilsport for Holi celebrations in the city yesterday.
As a repercussion of these orders, almost all the parties in Koregaon Park were cancelled on Sunday night. Those organisers who defied the orders had to face the music from the excise and police officials.

Shutters down: Revellers say a message was circulated on WhatsApp about parties being cancelled. But, since Hotel Green Plaza decided to go ahead with its plans, at least 3,000 people had turned up for the event. Another 500 were waiting outside. The venue was later raided by excise and police officials. Pic/Mohan Patil

Fleecing
A student who witnessed the raid on Hotel Green Plaza, lane number 4, in Koregaon Park, said, “A message was circulated on WhatsApp about parties being cancelled. But, since this hotel decided to go ahead with its plans, at least 3,000 people had turned up for the event. Another 500 were waiting outside. Initially, the organisers issued R300 entry pass per person, but as the crowds swelled, the amount spiralled to R1,000. I was part of the event. When a few of us complained about overcrowding, we were informed that since most of the events in the area had been called off, revellers were flocking to the hotel.”