HC allows police to resume raids on Gurugram clubs

GURUGRAM: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday allowed the Gurugram police to resume inspection of the clubs and bars on MG Road, where alleged immoral activities were being carried out. The court had barred the police from taking any coercive action on July 31, after some club owners had approached the HC against revocation of no-objection certificates (NOCS), mandatory for running the clubs, and the repeated raids by the local police.

On Monday, the court also directed the Gurugram police to submit suggestions by December 20 to ensure that no immoral activities take place on the Mall Mile. After receiving several complaints from local residents, alleging prostitution and sex rackets on the Mall Mile, the police had conducted a series of raids in June and July on multiple clubs on MG Road. Three criminal cases were registered against three clubs for their alleged involvement in immoral trafficking. Seven people, including two night club owners, were arrested from Sahara and MGF malls for alleged involvement in flesh trade on July 4. Four others, including two night club dancers, were arrested on July 19 from other MG road clubs.

K K Rao, Gurugram police commissioner, had written to district deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh on July 24, stating that the NOC issued to these clubs has been withdrawn with immediate effect. He also recommended that the excise department cancel their licences.

Unhappy with the police action and fearing the closure of their clubs, the owners had approached the Hcand managed to get a stay order over the revocation of the NOCS on July 31. The HC stay on the revocation of NOC is still in place. However, the court has now allowed police to inspect and book a club owner, if illegal activities were being run from there. losses.”