MUMBAI: The social service branch of the Mumbai police on Saturday night raided several dance bars in Mira Road. A total of 109 bar girls were arrested in the raids, reportedly carried out following instructions from state home minister R R Patil.
A police team swooped down on Red Alert, Red Horse, Mili, Saddel Up and Millennium 2000 bars located near the Thakur mall at Kashimira. The Kashimira and Mira Road police were caught unawares. Police sources said that secret chambers were busted inside the bars. It was in these chambers where bar dancers and customers were hiding.
According to police sources, Patil, who had led the campaign against dance bars that led to its ban in August 2005 had received several complaints about the bars mushrooming beyond the Dahisar check naka. The Thane (Rural) police are believed to have been pulled up by Patil for failing to take action against such bars.
As soon as the raid party swooped down on the bars, there was chaos. Bar girls were seen running for cover. The raids began at 10.30 pm on Saturday and continued till the wee hours of Sunday. The police recovered over Rs 5 lakh of cash.
The bars in Kashimira double up as brothels that work till 3 to 4 am, especially on weekends, sources said. Two buses full of bar girls were brought to the Thane court on Sunday afternoon. The police also arrested the managers of the bars. Customers however, were let off by the police, said sources.
Source: Timesofindia
