Sources say that procurement of a special licence from the excise department to serve liquor after 11.30 pm ufffd the deadline for drinking in public ufffd was overlooked by the party organisers
Sources say that procurement of a special licence from the excise department to serve liquor after 11.30 pm ufffd the deadline for drinking in public ufffd was overlooked by the party organisersu00a0
While the rain gods over the city played spoilsport to disrupt the IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Rajasthan Royals (RR) yesterday, the police put the brakes on the after-match party, as organisers apparently forgot to take a liquor licence for after midnight.
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| There's the fun: Munaf Patel with friends at the after-match party that was held in a city hotel on April 12. Sources claim that the party was held without procuring proper licence. Pic/Satish Badiger |
However, speculations continue over whether the party was cancelled as a result of oversight on the part of the organisers, or because a previous party, which was held on April 12, was conducted without a licence.
Although, there is no official reason for the cancellation, sources in DNA Networks say that procurement of a special licence from the excise department to serve liquor at the party after 11.30 pm ufffd the deadline for drinking in public ufffd had been overlooked.
The rules for nightlife in the city are strict and a special licence from the excise department through payment of Rs 10,000 is mandatory. Along with this, organisers are required to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the police.
As a consequence, the cricketers had to spend a dry night after witnessing a wet pitch in the stadium due to the rains.
Fashion Guru Prasad Bidappa was supposed to choreograph the fashion show showcasing thematic swimsuit robes designed by city-based designer Sanchitha. He received a message yesterday morning from DNA Networks ufffd organisers of the event ufffd informing that the party was cancelled.
Bidappa said, "I was told the party was cancelled, and flew to Delhi for the after-match-party."
No big deal"It is not a big deal. We would have given the permission, if they had asked for it. I think they had forgotten. It's an offence to extend the deadline without permission. They might have realised it and later cancelled the party," said M P Renukacharya, excise minister.u00a0
While Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police, informed that the organisers had said there would be no after-party-match this season, Shankar Bidari, commissioner of police, said, "Nobody approached us for the NOC and the party is not permitted."
Chasing down another speculation however, revealed a hazy picture with no one choosing to be straightforward. According to sources, the after-party-match organised at a five star hotel on April 12, when RCB faced Mumbai Indians, was conducted without a licence.
"I don't know if there was a party or not on that day in the hotel. If it was conducted without permission, then it is an offence and we will consider taking action against the hotel and the party organisers," said Renukacharya.
Barely rememberAnand Rao, general manager hotel, confirmed that the party was held on April 12, but he was evasive when asked whether permission had been taken.
"I don't exactly remember the details, but I think they had taken the licence," he said.
According to sources in DNA Networks, the police were livid over organising the party without licence, on April 12, and the organisers got the wind of it and to avoid further complications, they cancelled yesterday's party.
Spokespersons of DNA Networks refused to comment.
