Ballr Pub Dry Day Violation Pune: Manager Booked For Serving Liquor On Independence Day

By Prashant for PuneriPages.in

PUNE: The manager of the upscale Ballr Pub in Kalyani Nagar has been booked after hundreds of patrons were allegedly served liquor shortly after midnight on August 15—Independence Day, a legally mandated dry day across Maharashtra. Yerawada police registered an FIR under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Maharashtra Police Act after conducting a late-night raid.

The Violation: An Open Defiance

At approximately 1:10 am, following a tip-off, Police Sub-Inspector Fatangre along with Excise Inspector Jitendra Patil raided Ballr Pub and found liquor being served to an estimated 300–400 patrons, despite the prohibition in force for the dry day. The sheer scale of the activity showed a blatant disregard for the law.

Police Action and Legal Consequences

Yerawada Police Station registered FIR No. 557/2025 against the pub’s manager, Raymond Francis D’Souza (45), under Sections 223 and 293 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with relevant provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act [33(w)/131]. Police Constable Dnyaneshwar Balsaraf lodged the complaint. Senior Inspector Ravindra Shelke noted, “Serving liquor on a dry day is a serious offence … action has been initiated … further investigation is in progress.”

Such infractions can result in heavy penalties — including fines and possible suspension or cancellation of the establishment’s liquor license by the State Excise Department.

Understanding ‘Dry Days’ in India”

“Dry days” are specified by law as days on which the sale of alcohol is prohibited. In Maharashtra, these include major national holidays such as Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), and Gandhi Jayanti (October 2). Additional dry days may be declared on special occasions such as elections.

A Pattern of Scrutiny for Kalyani Nagar Establishments”

This incident comes amid persistent concerns over regulatory non-compliance by nightlife venues in Kalyani Nagar. A year after the fatal Porsche crash in May 2024, early enforcement efforts by the excise department and police—including inspections and license suspensions—appear to have lost momentum, with many pubs resuming operations despite past violations. Residents continue to file complaints related to safety, noise, and alcohol licensing.