10D pub staffer held for illegal supply of liquor amid lockdown

Hyderabad: The Punjagutta police busted a liquor racket that was operating from one of the city’s top pubs 10D located at Begumpet. The pub's staff were supplying liquor to a few clients illegally at higher prices. The police also seized huge quantities of liquor.

The Telangana government has directed that all pubs in the state be shut down during the lockdown and it has also banned the sale of liquor during this period. Violating the state's orders and taking advantage of the ban, Rambabu, a senior staffer in the pub's kitchen, had started supplying liquor illegally to customers.

A security guard posted at the pub helped him. They shifted the liquor from the pub to the kitchen which has a separate entrance. Rambabu took the orders and the security guard delivered the liquor to the customers. They changed the delivery timings every day according to the police movement in the area.

During the raids, the police seized liquor worth Rs. 2 lakh, which included 35 cartons of beer, 14 cartons of Breezer, 12 full bottles of Bacardi rum, and four full bottles of whiskey. The premises have been sealed for further investigation. A case under the Excise Act, Disaster Management Act, and the Epidemic Diseases Act will be registered against the staff and management of the pub, the Panjagutta police said.

10D is one of the favourite hangouts for party lovers in the city but it has been closed for customers for the past 40 days in view of the nationwide lockdown.