Hyderabad: West Zone DCP A. Venkateswara Rao told the media on Sunday that that the police had advised the Excise department to take stringent action against the bar and restaurant TGI Fridays at Banjara Hills, which had served liquor to the minors, one of whom later crashed his car killing eight-year-old Ramya and her uncle.
The DCP said the department had sent similar advisories several times to various liquor shops and bars. Asked about this, Hyderabad Excise superintendent B. Jyothi Kiran told this newspaper that the department had not received any recommendation or letter from the police.
“We have no information about the matter. We will take stringent action against erring bars and liquor shops,” the superintendent said.
He said that for such violations imposing compounding fees was the punishment recommended in the excise and prohibitions Act and rules. “A fine can be imposed between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1 lakh for serving liquor to minors. The fine will be imposed by the Excise commissioner,” the officer said.
Another official said there were a few cases of penalty being imposed on bar and liquor shops for serving liquor to minors. “Due to the lack of manpower, the department is unable to conduct random checks. In the TGIF case, we will verify its previous violations. If it crosses three violations, we shall recommend cancellation of licence,” the official said.
Owner of killer car faces action
Everyone in the car driven by K. Shravil, who caused the accident at Banjara Hills leading to the death of Ramya and her uncle Rajesh, was drunk and underage.
None of them was above 20 and the management of TGIF at Banjara Hills had served them at least 18 pegs of whisky and six glasses of beer without asking for ID. The city police has sent a notice to TGIF and the Excise commissioner, asking the latter to cancel the bar’s licence for violating rules.
“We have sent a notice to the bar management for serving liquor to underage youths. Alcohol should be served only to people above 21. We will be booking a case against the bar. We have also written to the Excise department, requesting them to cancel the licence,” said Mr A. Venkateswara Rao, DCP of West zone.
All six youngsters, first-year Engineering students of Keshav Memorial Institute of Technology, had plans to watch a movie. However, they dropped the idea and went to drink instead in the same complex at Banjara Hills.
According to the police, the car belonged to the father of Vishnu, who was in the car, while his friend Sharvil drove. “We are going to take action against the owner of the car, who gave his vehicle to them and allowed them to drive. The parents should be responsible and should have kept a watch on what their sons were doing,” said the DCP.
