Flip-flop on raiding of goan nightclub stumps cops

A bureaucrat’s order restraining police from entering a famous nightclub at Anjuna created ripples in the state police department on Tuesday. It was later withdrawn after the intervention of the district collector.

Anjuna police, on a drug raid and to enforce the Noise Pollution Act, were asked not to inspect the Paraiso de Goa club premises, located at Anjuna beach, without prior permission from the district administration. The order, signed by the deputy collector, Mapusa, left the police brass confused.

”The order asking police to stay away from the nightclub was issued by deputy collector (Mapusa) Dasharath Redkar on Tuesday. But it was withdrawn immediately,” North Goa collector Mihir Vardhan said.

He, however, was unable to explain why such an order was issued in the first place. Redkar, on the other hand, refused to speak to the media on the issue.

The nightclub, frequented by both foreign and Indian tourists, is known for trance-music parties, which often run beyond the regulated 10pm deadline.

In fact, it was raided in mid-March by DGP Bhimsen Bassi for playing loud music beyond 10pm. And in February, police nabbed a notorious drug dealer found hanging around the nightclub’s premises.

Located on a sea-fronted government lease land, the club is run by Nandan Kudchadkar. The state government has already issued an eviction notice to Kudchadkar for not paying up dues to the tune of Rs 30 lakh.

Incidentally, the club management had complained to the deputy collector about the constant police checks with regard the 10pm ban on loud music.