Pune: IPL organisers use switch hit to get around SC's highway liquor ban

Gahunje Stadium is barely 200 m from the PuneMumbai highwayPune Indian Premier League IPL10 organisers have found a way around the SCs ban against sale of liquor within 500 m of highways When Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians clash tonight at the IPL match at Gahunje Stadium near Pune drinks are likely to flow freely despite the ground being just 200 m from the PuneMumbai highwayAlso read Mumbai Hotel Association pleads Maharashtra government to denotify SC liquor banWhile visitors cant carry liquor into the stadium those in the deluxe corporate box have already paid hospitality charges which includes food and alcohol There are 1012 corporate boxes in the stadium each with a seating capacity of 12 and costing Rs 40000 The main entrance to the stadium connects to the highway via an emergency road Unless required this road is kept shut at all timesThe Maharashtra Cricket Association MCA which runs the ground had a 12kmlong service road laid around 2008 passing through the nearby Gahunje village and ending at another entrance behind the stadiumAlso read Liquor ban wont affect Mumbai airports VIP loungeLonger routeIPL franchise Rising Pune Supergiants which will attend to Thursdays hospitality exploited this service road to circumvent the 500m distance hurdle It sought permission from the excise department to serve drinks within the stadiums premises pointing out that it is the only access path to itSC liquor ban Restaurant owners feel the heat as customer count dropsAbhay Apte president of MCA clarified that the MCA has banned liquor within the stadium and did not seek any clearance from the excise department We will appeal to the IPL franchise not to serve liquor But if it persists there is little that I can doAll legal Excise deptMohan Varde superintendent of state excise department Pune division claimed that the clearance was aboveboard As per the SC ruling sale of liquor within 500 m of highways is banned But the IPL franchise approached us pointing out that the entrance to the stadium is around 12 km from the highway via a service road My officials inspected the area and measured the distance The permission granted is in accordance with the lawPolice circle officer Subhash Bagade under whose jurisdiction the Gahunje village road falls clarified that any action against consumption of liquor can be initiated only by the excise department We have no authority over the matterAlso read If highways turn into city roads liquor ban doesnt applyRachita Berry hospitality incharge of Rising Pune Supergiants said it is common practice to serve beverage which may include liquor to occupants of corporate boxes Asked if the franchise would be in contempt of defying the SC order she said she wasnt the right authority to comment on itDespite repeated calls Joyneel Mukherjee media manager of Rising Pune Supergiants was unavailable for comment Leeladhar Singh media manager of Mumbai Indians said We have no role to play in this matter As the match is in Pune Rising Pune Supergiants is taking care of hospitality