Mumbai: Liquor party at Bandra Fort sparks political uproar; CM orders probe

A political storm erupted after a video showing liquor being served at what appeared to be a private party at Bandra Fort went viral over the weekendThe Uddhav Thackerayndashled Shiv Sena UBT and the Congress questioned how permission was granted for such an event at a protected heritage site Within hours of the clip circulating widely Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered a probe into the incidentThe party was reportedly held on Saturday evening and continued into the early hours of Sunday The viral footage shows liquor bottles placed on a counter sparking outrage from political leaders and local residentsShiv Sena UBT secretary Akhil Chitre who first posted the video on X accused the Maharashtra Excise Department and the BMC of enabling a ldquoliquor partyrdquo at the 400yearold Bandra Fort despite a 2020 state government order prohibiting alcohol consumption on forts across Maharashtra mybmc mybmcWardHWhellip pictwittercompV1Urn0C6bmdash Akhil Chitre akhil1485 November 16 2025Speaking to IANS Chitre said ldquoThe BJP should explain under whose direction such planned events are taking place at Maharashtrarsquos forts and heritage sites While the BJP talks about cultural preservation their ministers and MLAs are allowing alcohol parties at heritage sites We have shared this video to expose the real face of the BJPrdquoMumbai Maharashtra Shiv Sena UBT leader Akhil Chitre says The BJP should explain under whose direction such planned events are taking place at Maharashtrarsquos forts and heritage sites While the BJP talks about cultural preservation their ministers and MLAs are allowinghellip pictwittercomBsf3wpCenvmdash IANS ians_india November 16 2025Chitre claimed the 625minute video was filmed by local residents early on Sunday He later visited the site with police officials to question the organisers who allegedly asserted they had permission but refused to produce documents The gathering is believed to have been a postevent party following a threeday music festival hosted at the fortThe controversy escalated as Congress leaders raised similar concerns Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar questioned how such an event could be permitted at a protected monument and demanded accountability from the authorities hellip pictwittercomNwGlrYMesumdash Vijay Wadettiwar VijayWadettiwar November 16 2025Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar responded on Tuesday November 18 calling the incident ldquounfortunate wrong and unacceptablerdquo He said he had ordered a departmental inquiry and that the administration was verifying whether any permissions were grantedldquoThe incident that occurred at Bandra Fort or its premises is unfortunate wrong and unacceptable The Chief Minister and I have ordered an investigation into this matterrdquo Shelar said AshishShelar pictwittercomC7yzzknF7Imdash Adv Ashish Shelar ShelarAshish November 18 2025However Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad questioned Shelarrsquos presence at the event as a special guest asking how he could attend if the incident was ldquowrong and unacceptablerdquo She accused the BJP of ldquodouble standardsrdquo and demanded a highlevel probe along with immediate implementation of security measures at all heritage forts hellip pictwittercomwdl6Ssy6STmdash Prof Varsha Eknath Gaikwad VarshaEGaikwad November 18 2025Opposition parties have reiterated calls for stringent action against those who authorised the event and for stronger safeguards to prevent similar violations in the future