BENGALURU: Officials from the Income Tax department, arrived at Bastian Garden City near MG Road in Central Bengaluru and launched a search operation at a pub co-owned by Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.
The exact nature of the searches and the reason for the raid is yet to be ascertained, and an official statement from the IT department is awaited. There were allegations about diners paying huge amouunts in cash and possibly this was the reason for the raid, said a source familiar with the developments.
A whistleblower had alleged, that the restaurant would get cash collections running into several lakhs every day, but there was no official confirmation or statement on this allegation from any government source.
Multiple officers were currently verifying and scouring through documents and records at the premises, sources said. The raids followed an FIR filed earlier in the week by the Cubbon Park police under the Central Division in Bengaluru against Bastian Garden City for operating beyond permissible hours. The police had raided the premises and shut it down as it was operating well past midnight.
A few days ago a video had gone viral showing two men engaging in a scuffle at Bastian Garden City on December 11. No explaination was available for the fight and it is presumed that the scuffle was a result of a minor disaggrement.
A case was registered against Bastian for operating past the legal closing hours, PTI had reported citing police as saying last week.
The restaurant located on St Marks road in Bengaluru, was allegedly found operating beyond the stipulated hours, hosting late-night parties in violation of rules on December 11, they said. “We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Karnataka Police Act at Cubbon Park police station against the manager and staff of the establishment for violating the rules,” a senior police officer told PTI. Police registered a case under Section 103 of the Karnataka Police Act, sources claimed.
Regarding the FIR, Shilpa Shetty addressed the controversy through a detailed statement on social media, clarifying her stance and urging restraint from the media. She noted that the matter is currently being investigated and asked for fairness in reporting. In her post, she stated, “We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated. The issues sought to be raised are being given a criminal colour without any lawful basis. A Quashing Petition has already been filed before the Hon’ble High Court and is pending adjudication. Having fully cooperated with the investigation, we are sanguine that justice will prevail and have complete faith in the law enforcement authorities and the judicial system of our country. We respectfully urge the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub judice.”
Leave a Reply