Pune Porsche Crash: Municipal Corporation Demolishes Illegal Pubs & Restaurants; Owners Blame Fake ID Cards

Three days after a teenager, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, fatally knocked down two motorbike-borne software engineers with his Porsche, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) swung into action on Wednesday to crack down on illegal pubs and bars across the city.

The action comes amid reports that the 17-year-old boy reportedly spent Rs 48,000 within 90 minutes at one of the two pubs — Cosie restaurant and Hotel Blak Club — he visited hours before he rammed his luxury vehicle into the bike, killing 24-year-olds Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta.

The Maharashtra excise department on Tuesday sealed the two restaurants on orders of the Pune district collectorate.

News18 has learnt that PMC sent notices to 15 locations in Mundwa, 10 in Koregaon Park and another 15 locations in Kalyani Nagar area — all party hubs in Pune. According to the civic body, an area of more than 1,35,000 square feet housed the illegal structures and was under the scanner. The move, however, has raised questions over the delay in cracking down on such establishments.

Pune, of late, has seen a rise in pubs and rooftop restaurants in residential areas as the youth population of the city increases due to a burgeoning IT sector and influx of students.

Amid the crackdown, Pune pub owners are set to meet the police commissioner and ask him to stop action against them, imploring that the youngsters enter the establishments using fake IDs and the pubs have no way to cross check the authenticity of the same.

The Pune Police has so far arrested the father of the 17-year-old and four executives of restaurants for serving liquor to the minor.

The Maharashtra Transport Department, taking cognizance of the horrific incident, barred the teen from getting a driving licence until he turns 25 years old. It also said the registration of the Porsche Taycan was pending since March due to non-payment of Rs 1,758 fees.

The tragedy sparked nationwide outrage when media reports revealed that the Juvenile Justice Board, in a shocking verdict, granted the youngster bail on the same day while asking him to write an essay on road safety. It was after widespread criticism of the order that authorities swung into action, arresting the teen’s father and cracking down on pubs serving alcohol to minors.

A special inspection drive has also been started by the excise department to ensure pubs and license-holding restaurants do not serve liquor to underage patrons and operate beyond the 1.30am deadline.

“If any violations are found, cases would be registered against such establishments and their licences will be cancelled,” said a statement by the department.

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