Pune Police shut Koregaon Park's Plunge pub until further orders for operating past closing time

Pune Police have ordered the Plunge pub in the Koregaon Park area to remain closed until further orders. The pub is permitted to stay open only until 1.30 am. The action followed an inquiry that found it was still open after that time.

The order was issued on the instructions of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar. He had received information that the pub was not following the rules on timings for pubs, bars and restaurants. Such establishments can stay open only until 1.30 am, but the inquiry found Plunge was still open after 2 am.

During the inquiry, police marshals went to the pub at 1.30 am to check whether it had closed. The management is said to have told them that the pub had shut for the night. The marshals confirmed this and left.

It later emerged that the pub reopened shortly after the marshals left. This has raised a suspicion that the pub may be shut briefly whenever police come to inspect it and reopened once the officials leave. For now, this is only a suspicion.

Police have taken the matter seriously. They will also investigate why the pub resumed business after the marshals left. Officials said strict action will be taken against any establishment that violates the prescribed closing time.

The action means owners of other pubs and bars in Koregaon Park will also have to be careful. Police are likely to keep watching places in the area that stay open beyond the permitted hours.

The ban on Plunge will remain in force until further orders. The action was taken because the inquiry found the pub open beyond the permitted time. Police will now also examine the reason for its reopening.