Excise Department Cracks Down on Bars and Illegal Liquor Transport in Bhopal
59 Bars, Including Hotel and Restaurant Outlets, Face License Suspension for Safety Breaches
Bhopal: In a sweeping crackdown, the Excise Department on Saturday suspended and sealed the licences of 59 out of 87 bars in Bhopal district for failing to submit mandatory safety and regulatory documents.
Of the 87 operational bars, 51 were licensed as restaurants (FL-2), 31 as hotels (FL-3), and 5 under other categories. However, licences were suspended for 38 FL-2 establishments, 20 FL-3 hotels, and one other outlet due to non-compliance with government-mandated public health and safety standards and failure to submit essential documents.
According to an official list accessed by The Sun Today, prominent names such as 10 Downing Street, Barbeque Nation, Farzi Café, and Hotel Amer Palace are among those found violating regulations.
Key lapses included the absence of Electrical Safety Certificates from competent authorities, Fire No Objection Certificates (NOC), and missing electronic bank guarantees (E-BGs). Several establishments also failed to provide GST/VAT registration, recent photographs of the premises, and valid rent agreements.
In total, licences of around 62 bars—including those operating in hotels and restaurants—were suspended for failing to submit mandatory documents online within the renewal deadline, including fire safety certifications.
Notable FL-2 restaurant bars such as Bawarchi Restaurant, Molecule Air Bar, My Bar Headquarters, and Romeolane were all cited for lacking critical safety clearances.
FL-3 hotel bars like Hotel Golden Bar, Hotel Skylark, and Hotel Sayaji were also flagged for deficiencies in both documentation and financial compliance.
Even FL-4 licensed civilian clubs, such as Bhojpur Club, were found to have failed to submit any of the core required documents.
Officials stated that the crackdown is part of a larger effort to ensure all liquor-serving public establishments adhere strictly to safety and regulatory standards.
Illegal Liquor Transport Busted in Parallel Operation
In a simultaneous operation targeting illicit liquor trade, the Excise Department seized 38 cartons of foreign liquor being illegally transported in a Duster SUV from Dewas. The raid was conducted on Saturday by Excise Circle 6A (Bairagarh), led by Officer Swati Baghel under the direction of Assistant Excise Commissioner Virendra Dhakad.
“Two accused, Shahrukh Ali and Shakir Ali, were arrested on the spot and booked under Sections 34(1)(A) and 34(2) of the Madhya Pradesh Excise Act, 1915,” Dhakad told The Sun Today.
The seized consignment contained 381 bulk litres of liquor. The total estimated market value of the alcohol and the vehicle is pegged at ₹15 lakh. The accused have been sent to jail, and further investigation is ongoing.
These back-to-back actions underscore the administration’s firm commitment to enforcing safety compliance in licensed establishments and cracking down on the illegal liquor trade in the state capital.
