MARGAO: The Excise Department apparently does not take cognisance of the cases booked by police of ruckus or fights taking place at bars when the bars are supposed to be closed for the night even though the police report such cases to the Excise Department.
Since 2018, the South Goa Police have reported seven cases to the Excise Department of cases booked by them regarding untoward incidents happening at bars that remained open beyond the scheduled time.
While one such case was booked in Ponda, two cases were booked in Canacona and four in Salcete. The cases booked are generally regarding causing hurt with dangerous weapons, insult, breach peace, wrongful restraint, unlawful assembly, causing grievous injury, rioting and even attempt to murder.
The four bars in Salcete where cases are booked include a bar at Reprawado in Varca where two cases were booked on two separate days and both cases were beyond 11 pm, one at Colva where the incident occurred at 3.10 am and the fourth was at a bar on the Varca-Benaulim road where the incident occurred at 12.35 am.
The two incidents in Canacona were at a restaurant at Palolem where the incident occurred at 4 am and the other was at a dhaba at Agonda where the incident occurred at 12.45 am. The lone incident at Ponda happened at bar & restaurant at Khandepar at 3.30 am.
The Excise Department has not even sent a show cause notice to the owners of these bars even though there is clear evidence that they were open beyond the stipulated time as the first information report filed by the police mentions it besides they have been informed by the police.
Excise Inspector Shamba Naik at Margao said the department has served notices on six bar owners for keeping their premises open beyond the stipulated time, but these are cases that have been reported by their staff while on the rounds.
“We have not issued notices to the owners mentioned by the police as the police investigations are not completed and we shall initiate action only after the police finish their case,” he said.
It may be relevant to point out that at 12.30 am on September 6, Francisco Carvalho (33) from Manora Raia was murdered at Charlton Bar at Manora Raia and the Excise Department is yet to initiate any action against the owner.
