9 pub staff taken into custody after surprise raid in KPHB

Hyderabad: Nine staff members, including four women and five men, were taken into custody following a surprise police raid at a pub in KPHB on Saturday night. The raid allegedly uncovered soliciting activities and several regulatory violations, police said.

According to police, all nine would be treated as witnesses.

During an inspection of the pub, police found prima facie evidence suggesting that the management was allegedly using women to attract male customers, generate inflated bills, and facilitate soliciting activities.

“Soliciting was evident during the inspection, while the possibility of prostitution is still under investigation,” Kukatpally DCP Ritiraj said. He added that the establishment appeared to function as a platform encouraging such activities.

The DCP clarified that the four women brought in from the premises were being treated as witnesses, not as accused persons.

According to police, the pub was also allegedly operating beyond permitted hours, serving liquor and food in violation of regulations, operating without a valid police No Objection Certificate (NOC), and lacking adequate measures to prevent minors from entering.

Investigators said the trade licence was registered in the name of Prasad Reddy, while the establishment was being operated by Murali Krishna and managed by Ravindra. Police officials stated that the process to cancel the establishment’s licence had already been initiated.

“The others taken into custody are staff members who will also serve as witnesses in court,” a KPHB police official said.

Police have seized the DVR system and are examining surveillance footage and other electronic evidence to identify additional persons connected to the case. Details of vehicles found on the premises have also been collected.

The pub had previously been booked in three separate cases for operating beyond permissible hours.

A fresh case has been registered under Sections 223, 292, and 318(4) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 5 and 8 of the Prevention of Immoral Traffic (PIT) Act. Further investigation is underway.

The raid was conducted by Kukatpally DCP Ritiraj, along with additional DCP Shameer, DI KS Ravi, and other police personnel.