Mumbai : Senior Inspector Suspended After 40 Bar Girls Found in Andheri Bar During Crime Branch Raid

Mumbai, June 16:In a major crackdown on illegal activities at licensed orchestra bars, the senior inspector of MIDC police station, Rajiv Chavan, was suspended on Sunday following a late-night raid by the Crime Branch, which led to the discovery of over 40 bar girls allegedly dancing and engaging in inappropriate activities at an Andheri-based bar.

The action was taken after a joint raid by the Property Cell and Crime Branch Unit-2 in the early hours of Sunday at Night Lover Orchestra Bar in Marol, Andheri East. The presence of such a large number of bar girls is a blatant violation of licensing laws that govern the operation of orchestra bars in Mumbai.

Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region) Paramjeet Singh Dahiya confirmed the suspension of Inspector Chavan, citing dereliction of duty. “An offence has been registered against the bar operator, and since the establishment falls within the MIDC police station’s jurisdiction, the concerned senior inspector has been suspended. A departmental inquiry has also been initiated,” Dahiya said.

A police officer involved in the raid said, “Finding 40 bar girls during a single raid is not a small matter. It clearly shows that the bar owner was operating fearlessly, without any concern for law enforcement presence.”

Sources say that such a scale of operation could not have taken place without negligence or possible collusion by local law enforcement. The bar was allegedly running its operations in violation of multiple norms, including the permitted number of performers and the type of activities allowed.

The police department's swift action is being seen as an effort to reassert control and accountability, especially within the ranks of those responsible for law and order in entertainment zones like Andheri.

Officials stated that this disciplinary action serves as a strong message to other police station heads across the city. “It is now clear that no officer will be spared if illegal activities flourish under their watch. They are expected to maintain strict vigilance and take proactive action,” a senior officer remarked.

Further investigations are ongoing into the operations of Night Lover Orchestra Bar and its management. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional arrests or suspensions if more lapses are uncovered.