Cuttack, Dec 15: The Excise Department’s recent attempt to shut down illegal bars and pubs in Bhubaneswar has largely failed due to a leak of information about the raid. The department had planned to inspect bars and pubs that were operating past legal hours and collect fines, but the operation was stopped before it could begin because a detail of the raid was leaked before.

In a recent raid attempt, the bars and pubs in the city saw a large increase in crowds, with many venues staying busy until early Sunday morning. Some bar owners were involved in illegal activities, such as hosting vulgar dance shows and selling alcohol without a license. One such place at Patia was known for these illegal activities. Although the police and Excise Department knew about the situation, they did not take any immediate action.

A diary found at a bar cum restaurant at Patia revealed detailed records of bribes paid to police officers, excise officials, and other local authorities. This diary exposed the corruption within the local administration and showed how organized the illegal alcohol trade had become. However, the planned raid yesterday was ineffective as many bar owners had already closed their businesses after hearing about the inspection.

The Excise Department had set up seven teams to inspect around 30 locations across the city. Unfortunately, these teams faced resistance, and some bar owners had already shut down before the raid. In other cases, bars appeared to be following all the rules, and no illegal activities were found. This failure has led to widespread questions about who leaked the information about the raid, with some suspecting deeper corruption within the Excise Department.

Infact, the Excise Department is still investigating a major fire that broke out at bar cum restaurant at Patia last Thursday.

The establishment was found to be selling alcohol without a license, and authorities have promised a thorough investigation into the matter.

Despite these issues, no formal complaints have been filed against a bar cum restaurant at Patia and it is unclear why action wasn't taken earlier.

On Saturday, the Excise officials came under attack from a few drunken men while conducting raids at bars in Bhubaneswar to ensure timely closure and adherence to established norms, an official said on Sunday. During one such raid at a bar at Patia in Chandrasekharpur police station area, a few drunken men hurled liquor bottles at the vehicles of the excise officials, who were, however, not injured in the incident, he said.

As the New Year approaches, concerns are rising that illegal liquor operations, both in bars and in local neighborhoods, will continue to grow. Without a strong strategy from the police and Excise Department, the situation in Cuttack may get worse.