Mumbai hotel and bar owners write letter to CM over 'harassment' by police

MUMBAI: Hotel and bar owners in a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray have brought to his notice their alleged harassment by the local police over implementation of closure timings despite state authorities restoring the original pre-Covid deadline of 1.30am.

"We have to bring to your notice that there is unnecessary confusion with regards to timing of operation for

Restaurants

in the city of Mumbai. There are many police stations who are enforcing closure of restaurants at 11pm and there are other police stations who are enforcing closure at 12 midnight," they have stated.

"In this connection we have to state that the state disaster management authorities in November had lifted all restrictions and enabled operations of Restaurants and all businesses as usual. Based on this the police too had issued the order confirming the same. Thereafter by another order this month the Municipal Commissioner once again clarified that existing restrictions were being lifted and business operation timings would be as usual and as per the timings prescribed by respective licensing authorities. From this, it is very clear that there is no restriction or clamp down on the timing of operations for Restaurants in the city of Mumbai," the letter pointed out.

Under the circumstances we have to request your good self to issue necessary clarification to all police stations which are enforcing timings which are in variance and contradictory, and allow operation of Restaurants till 1:30am as usual, the letter signed by

HRAWI

president

Sherry Bhatia

stated at the end.