Hyderabad Xora Bar in trouble for displaying exotic animals; manager held

Hyderabad: After a heated controversy erupted in Hyderabad following a tweet by Ashish Chowdhury, who raised concerns about Xora Bar and Kitchen’s alleged display of exotic wildlife within their nightclub premises, the owner of Xora Bar and Kitchen, Vinay Reddy, has been taken into custody.

On Tuesday, the Jubilee Hills police handed over the case to the forest authorities. Anuradha V., the forest range officer, took Vinay Reddy to KBR Park for further interrogation.

Speaking to NewsMeter, the forest range officer said, “During the interrogation, Vinay revealed that the animals don’t belong to the pub. According to his statement, a Saidabad pet store allegedly owns the pets.”

On Monday evening, Ashish Chowdhury saw Instagram stories of Xora Bar and Kitchen where they were parading exotic wildlife within the nightclub premises. In his tweet he tagged Cyberabad commissionerate and said Xora nightclub in Jubilee Hills Road no. 36 put up exotic wildlife for display on their premises over the weekend.

The tweet, accompanied by stories from the bar’s Instagram page, quickly caught the attention of netizens and prompted action from both the Hyderabad city police and Aravind Kumar, chief secretary of the municipal administration and urban development department (MAUD).

Responding to his tweet, the Hyderabad city police directed the Jubilee station officer to check it out. Mr. Aravind Kumar also responded to Ashish’s tweet and tweeted, “Taking it up with @TelanganaDGP @CVAnandIPS @TelanganaCOPs and PCCF. The audacity is shameful & shocking.”

‘No animals were harmed’

As social media users expressed outrage, Xora Bar and Kitchen issued a response defending their actions, emphasising compliance with licensing and safety measures, and assuring the public that the animals’ welfare was prioritised during the event. With authorities now involved, the investigation into the matter is set to unfold, shedding light on the audacious incident that has sparked widespread condemnation.

In their Instagram stories, Xora Bar and Kitchen posted, “This notice aims to address concerns raised regarding the involvement of animals in the event that took place in Xora last night. It is imperative to clarify that all animals featured in the shows were duly licensed and complied with the necessary safety measures. We wish to assure attendees that no animals were harmed during the event as they were handled with the utmost care and diligence. Additionally, measures were implemented to prevent any adverse effects caused by loud noises, ensuring the animals’ welfare was safeguarded throughout the show. We appreciate your support and understanding while considering the comprehensive efforts undertaken by the event team to prioritise animal well-being on the show.”

According to sources, the Saidabad pet store owner apparently exhibits these exotic animals at several events in Hyderabad.