The Madras High Court on Wednesday directed Chennai Police to seal a restaurant used as a nightclub for cabaret performances since 2014. It also issued directions to the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct frequent inspections. State clubs, restaurants and associations where obscene dancing, the sale of drugs and other illegal activities are suspected.
Justice SM Subramaniam also directed the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to cancel the license granted to Pulse restaurant operating at GG Complex on Anna Salai. Restaurant owner S. Ramasamy against A. The orders were passed while disposing of a 2015 writ petition filed by Jayaprakash. The petitioner had complained of obscene dance performed by several women in the restaurant from 7:30 pm to 1 pm daily.
The petitioner submitted that the restaurant was indulging in illegal activity under the guise of Indian cultural dance. It charged an entry fee of ₹400 per person but no receipt given by them. About 25 to 30 women, aged 16 to 35, were made to dance semi-nude among the participants tossing currency notes at the dancers. Liquor was also supplied to the restaurant as a Tasmac shop was located right inside the commercial premises. The plaintiff also brought to the notice of the court that the owner of the restaurant had used the bouncers to intimidate unruly customers and others questioning such illegal activities. They claimed that dancers exchange phone numbers with customers during performances and then engage in commercial sex work after midnight. Although the Triplicane police station was nearby, police officers rarely take any action, he lamented.
Since the case was filed in 2015, the judge sought to know the present status and asked Additional Public Prosecutor (AGP) M. Rajendran to ascertain the details. He went back saying that in 2018 also a case was registered against the restaurant and for using 16 women for obscene dance. He also said that in 2014, the owner of the restaurant filed a writ petition and obtained an interim order to restrain the police from harassing him. Though that interim order had clarified that no obscene dance performance should be performed in the restaurant, he filed a contempt of court petition against police officials after the 2018 raids. An assistant commissioner inspected the restaurant early on September 11 this year and found that obscene dance performances were continuing. After this a second case was registered.
Recently, the Commissioner of Police refused to renew license of the restaurant and also recommended the GCC to close it permanently. After recording submissions, the judge said he was of the firm view that the restaurant was being used for illegal activities, although its owner continued to maintain that he was a law-abiding citizen and that nothing in the restaurant was not illegal