On the directions of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Mumbai police have suspended the licences of 11 orchestra bars for 30 days after raids found alleged violations of dance bar regulations and obscenity laws, authorities said, as the Maharashtra government considers tougher penalties for repeat offenders.
This action by the Munbai Police follows raids conducted last week by the Mumbai Crime Branch at multiple locations in Tardeo, Andheri and Ghatkopar, where police alleged that establishments operating under orchestra bar licences were functioning as dance bars in violation of state regulations.
Police said the bars had breached provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Obscene Dance in Hotels, Restaurants and Bar Rooms and Protection of Dignity of Women (Working Therein) Act, 2016, which regulates the operation of orchestra bars and places restrictions on performances and employment conditions.
At Pushpa Bar in the Tardeo area, police said 12 women were found performing and were allegedly found interacting closely with customers. An FIR was registered against approximately 47 persons, including members of the management and patrons.
At ”Sachi Bar & Restaurant”, in Andheri area of subarb , 7 women were allegedly made to perform “obscene dances” under the pretext of live orchestra. Around 26 people were booked.
In total, nearly 60 people were detained and 25 women were rescued during the operations, according to officials.
Investigators said the alleged violations included exceeding the permitted number of female performers, creating concealed performance areas through structural modifications, allowing customers to offer money to performers, and employing women beyond authorised working hours.
Under existing regulations, orchestra bars are allowed to employ a maximum of four female waitresses until 9:30 pm, subject to prescribed conditions.
The crackdown comes days after a video from Dasi Bar in Mumbai’s Marol area went viral on social media, with claims that a customer spent nearly Rs 1 crore on dancers.
The footage prompted multiple complaints to the Crime Branch and renewed scrutiny of orchestra bar operations in the city.
Moreover, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has informed the state assembly in the ongoing Monsoon session that the state government is drafting amendments that could allow the permanent cancellation of licences after three or four violations.
“The court allowed women to work in bars and we amended the rules, making them stricter. But there are still complaints of violations,” Fadnavis told the Assembly.
Maharashtra’s 2005 law banning dance bars was struck down by the Supreme Court and later replaced by the 2016 legislation, which permits orchestra bars to operate under strict regulatory conditions.
According to senior officials from Mumbai Police the ongoing inspections would continue across the city to ensure compliance with the law and prevent orchestra bars from reverting to dance bar operations.
The licence suspensions took effect immediately.
