Bar girl's death: Himanshu Roy orders probe

The joint commissioner of police (crime) has ordered an inquiry into the death of a 30-year-old bar girl in Borivli. Shaba Khan alias Nisha worked in Ellora Bar in Borivli allegedly died after the Social Service Branch (SSB) officials raided the place on Saturday night.

According to the Kasturba Marg police, where a case of accidental death has been registered, Khan fainted and collapsed. She was declared dead before admission in Bhagwati Hospital. The police are awaiting Khan’s post-mortem, viscera and forensic reports to ascertain the exact cause of her death.

An officer said, “The bar officials have accused us of causing the woman’s death. We have retrieved the CCTV recordings from the owner.”

The inquiry will be headed by Firoz Patel, assistant commissioner of police, SSB. He will submit the report to JCP (crime), Himanshu Roy, within three days.

SSB officers raided Ellora Bar on MG Road around 8.30pm on Saturday. Around 12 to 15 male staffers, 21 customers and 23 bar girls were present in the bar when the rain happened. The Kasturba Marg police said the SSB has registered a case against the bar as it did not have the requisite licences to function.

However, the bar owner, Varun Agarwal, has alleged that the police assaulted the staff while raiding the premises.

Agarwal said, “The policemen assaulted the male staffers and snatched cell phones and cash. The woman died because the police were scaring people. We will write to the commissioner of police and demand action.”

Khan had started working in the bar about a fortnight ago.