Picture for representational purpose

BENGALURU: Police on Thursday prohibited 107 pubs and discotheques in Bengaluru from playing music after they were found to have violated rules of a 2005 public entertainment order issued by the state government.

Joint commissioner (crime) Sandeep Patil said they have asked the jurisdictional deputy commissioners of police to serve cancellation orders on the erring pubs and hotels and take legal action if they continued to play music.

The police action follows complaints from citizens that music at pubs was too loud and violated the Licensing and Controlling of Places of Public Entertainment (Bengaluru City) Order 2005. Police clarified that the order is only against playing music. "Pubs can run business without operating discotheques or playing music," Patil said.

Bengaluru City police commissioner Bhaskar Rao told TOI: "We are following the Supreme Court order. However, I'm not aware if other commissioners had raided the pubs."

Pub-hoppers and owners said frequent police raids have affected quality of Bengaluru's nightlife. A pub owner from Koramangala said: "Pubs are the soft target for cops. Many other places - party halls and flea markets, for instance - too play loud music. Instead, cops target us," he added.

Another pub owner said, “While we have to obtain an entertainment licence and keep documents in order to operate our business, many commercial establishments and houses are allowed to host parties with blaring music.”

Pubs, hotels and discotheques must obtain the BBMP’s approval to run trade, the excise department’s licence to serve liquor, and the police nod to play music. Police were given the mandate to issue licence to play music after the Karnataka government issued the public entertainment order of 2005 following a directive from the Karnataka high court.

Rohit, a pub regular, said: “It is scary to visit a pub because of a sudden police raid. Recently, there were reports of a girl jumping off the first floor of a pub out of fear when the cops came knocking on the door.”

