Pune News : Elrow and Unicorn House receive notices from excise department

In response to recent enforcement actions by the Social Security Department, both Elrow and Unicorn House, popular pubs in Pune, have been served show cause notices by the state excise department. The notices, demanding a response within seven days, follow a crackdown initiated by the Pune police, who had previously sought the cancellation of the pubs’ licenses due to alleged violations.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) was also urged by the police to take strict measures against the establishments. Consequently, PMC conducted demolitions of unauthorized constructions at Elrow over the weekend.

Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar had taken action against the pubs after complaints surfaced regarding their operation beyond permissible hours, extending past 1:30 a.m. Subsequently, the Social Security Department confiscated valuables worth Rs 29 lakh, including sound systems, flavoured tobacco for hookahs, and hookah pots.

Charan Singh Rajput, Superintendent of the state excise department in Pune, confirmed the issuance of notices to both Elrow and Unicorn. Further actions will depend on the responses provided by the establishments.

Sandeep Sahastrabuddhe, partner of Elrow and Unicorn House, expressed their engagement with the authorities and their intention to submit responses to the show cause notices. The pubs had their liquor licenses suspended by the district collector on September 2, 2022, although the state excise commissioner later imposed a stay order on the suspension on September 15, 2022.

Despite facing numerous legal issues, including noise pollution sanctions, criminal cases, and violations of tobacco laws, the establishments have continued operations. Several individuals associated with the pubs, including Sandeep Harshvardhan Sahastrabuddhe, Aman Ida Sheikh, and Sumit Chaudhary, have been charged under various sections of the law in connection with the cases.