Court raps police, orders release of 64 customers arrested in Mumbai bar raid

A court in Mumbai reprimanded police after 64 customers arrested during a raid on an orchestra bar in Dahisar were produced before it on Tuesday, questioning the action taken against patrons and directing their release.

The raid was conducted by the Dahisar police on Monday night at Samudra Orchestra Bar in the Dahisar area. During the operation, police took eight bar staffers and around 64 customers into custody for alleged violations of rules governing orchestra bars.

According to police sources, the establishment was found operating beyond the permissible time limits and was allegedly not complying with prescribed regulations for orchestra bars. Several bar girls were also rescued from the premises during the raid.

On Tuesday, the arrested customers and bar staff were produced before a court in Borivali. During the hearing, the court expressed displeasure over the decision to take customers into custody and directed the police to release them.

Following the court's directions, the 64 customers were served notices and subsequently released.

The eight bar staffers, however, remain under legal scrutiny. Police are expected to produce them before the court again while seeking their custody in connection with the alleged violations.

Further investigation into the functioning of the orchestra bar and the alleged breaches of regulations is underway.

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