Cops raid Hawaiian Shack, down shutters

The police on Saturday raided a pub Hawaiian Shack at Khar and arrested its owner and manager on charges of not possessing performance licence. The owner Sadhna Lalwani and manager Raj Sawla were later released on bail.

“We went to the pub to check if they served liquor to those aged below 21 years. But we found out that the pub did not have the performance licence,” said DCP Sanjay Mohite. The pub was shut down after they failed to show the licence, the police said.

“At 10pm, the cops came and began inquiring at the reception. Six to seven policemen in plainclothes followed them. They started clicking pictures and recording in a videocamera,” said a regular at the pub who did not wish to be named. “After 15 minutes, the bouncers at the pub assured us that music would be stopped for a brief period and things would be fine in 15 minutes,” she added.

Another visitor said, “At 11pm, the bouncers announced that the pub would be shut for the day.”

The pub’s cashier Mohammed Ismail said, “The pub was open, but there was no music.” Lalwani and Sawla could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.