Lounges operate beyond fixed time, capacity, 4 held

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 18

Four persons were arrested by the Panchkula police after raids were conducted by a team of the Chief Minister’s flying squad at two lounges in the wee hours of Sunday for allegedly violating Covid guidelines.

Both places — Coco Cafe and Lounge in Sector 11 and Purple Frog in Sector 9 — were found to be overcrowded, which is in violation of the Covid norms.

The raids lasted four-five hours. Those arrested have been identified as Gurkirtan (manager) and Ashish (cashier) of Coco Cafe and Lounge; and Prabhat Saini (owner) and Vikram (manager) of Purple Frog.

The police also seized 162 bottles of illegal liquor – 30 English and 132 country-made — from Coco Cafe and Lounge

Sidharth Dhanda, DSP CM flying squad, Ambala Range, said they had received inputs that these places were operating beyond the time and capacity fixed by the state government.

‘’We had received a tip-off that the two places were operating beyond midnight with large crowds while the guidelines clearly state that bars and restaurants can operate till 10 pm with 50 per cent capacity,’’ he said.

“After a recce of the two places, the flying squad officials called in the local police teams to join them. Both places were heavily crowded. The raids lasted until 5 am in the morning,” DSP Dhanda added.

Separate FIRs have been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Disaster Management Act at the Sector 5 police station.

box: Hookah also served

Officials said hookah was also being served to customers at both places. The raiding party also collected samples of various hookah flavours to ascertain their actual nicotine content.