Congress MLA Ravindra Dhangekar Exposes Extortion Network in Pune’s Nightlife, Reveals Names of Officials and Establishments
Pune, 28th May 2024: Following the Porsche Car Accident case in Kalyani Nagar, Pune, several significant revelations have come to light. Regarding the issue of illegal pubs and drugs in the city, Congress MLA from Kasba Peth and Mahavikas Aghadi’s Pune Lok Sabha candidate, Ravindra Dhangekar, along with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushma Andhare, staged a protest at the office of the Pune Division of the Maharashtra State Excise Department on Monday (27th May). During this protest, the department was presented with a rate card detailing extortion in Pune, which has now been made public.
Ravindra Dhangekar also disclosed the names of the officers who collected the payments and those who facilitated the collection on their behalf. This has caused turmoil in Pune, leading to a tense atmosphere in the Pune Division of Excise.
The list recited by Sushma Andhare includes establishments such as The Mafia, Agent Jack’s, 2BHK Diner & Key Club, Ballr, Dimora Dance & Kitchen, Millers The Luxury Club, TTM Rooftop, Backstage Lounge & Bar, Thikana Bar, Sky Story, Jimmy Da Dhaba, Tony Da Dhaba, The Irish House, Talli Bar & Kitchen, Atmosphere 6, Rude Lord, 24K Kraft Brewzz, Cocorico Smoke Bar and Kitchen, Smoky Beach, Sarovarr Multicuisine Restaurant, Sunny Hora’s 18 hotels, bars, 2 wine shops, 3 beer shops, Balasaheb Raut and Sachin Gore’s 66 bars, 30 wine shops, 35 beer shops, and Kailas Jagtap and others’ 11 bars, 8 wine shops, 9 beer shops.
Dhangekar stated that a collection of Rs 78 lakh per month was made, and 2.5 crore rupees were recovered from new licensees in 2 years.
On this occasion, Ravindra Dhangekar also disclosed the names of the officers involved in collecting the installments. He mentioned that Pune Excise Superintendent Charan Singh Rajput has been particularly supportive of the nightlife scene, receiving payments approximately every month from each hotel.
The installment collectors from various areas such as Viman Nagar, Koregaon Park, Kalyani Nagar, Bhugaon, Bhukum, Baner, Hinjawadi, Pimpri Chinchwad, Lonavla, etc., were named as Constables Sagar Dhurve, Tatya Shinde, Sameer Padwal, Swapnil Darekar, Gore Major and Gopal Kanade. Ravindra Dhangekar also stated that individuals like Yuvraj Patil, Munna Shaikh, Ravi Pujari, Tanaji Patil, Mauli Shinde, Raju, along with some license holders like Rahul Ramnath, Sunny Singh Hora, and Balasaheb Raut, are also involved in the collection process.
