PARTY POOPERS.

Mumbai's legendary nightlife suffers as cops turn moral police

THE famed Mumbai nightlife is under siege and the party crowd is predictably perturbed.

A series of raids on pubs, bars and discotheques and the subsequent detention of revellers by the Mumbai police's social service branch -- ostensibly to bust drug and prostitution rackets -- have begun to take a toll on the city's party culture, even as the legitimacy of the police's concern remains a hot potato.

There is also the sudden emphasis on drinking permits -- the absence of which could cost you up to ` 50,000 in fine and five years in jail. Unsurprisingly, many Mumbaikars have begun to have second thoughts about going for a night- out to unwind after a hectic day.

And at the centre of the storm is additional commissioner of police ( ACP) Vasant Dhoble, largely credited with spearheading the recent spurt of moral policing in Mumbai.

While the public aversion for Dhoble's " tyranny" continues to grow, the ruling alliance partners Congress and the NCP are finding it difficult to see eye to eye on his growing notoriety.

Minister of state for home Satej Patil, a Congressman, on Wednesday spoke to Mumbai police chief Arup Patnaik with a message of zero- tolerance for moral policing.

" While laws should be obeyed, this kind of moral policing based on the whims and fancies of one policeman should not be allowed," he said.

But his meeting is expected to serve little purpose as Dhoble, known for his spotless record, is said to enjoy immense favour among the police brass as also with Maharashtra home minister R. R. Patil, of the NCP. A " moral crusader" himself, Patil -- responsible for the shutting down of dance bars in Maharashtra in 2005 -- has reportedly asked Dhoble to launch a Mumbai- like crackdown in Thane too.

Dhoble, however, is least concerned about the controversy he has sparked. When contacted on Thursday by phone, the ACP said he would talk later as he was in the middle of yet another raid.

A citizen crusade is meanwhile taking shape against the social service branch's harassment.

Model Nisha Harale Bedi's endeavour on a social- networking site, calling for a candlelight march against the crackdown, already has 7,600 registered participants.

" We don't want to go against the system. We youngsters are ready to obey the rules, but you cannot paint everyone with the same brush," said Nisha, who started the movement after the police busted an alleged rave party at Oakwood Hotel on May 20, detaining many of those in attendance.

Party- hub owners say they are willing to work with the police, but are wary of their knack for terming every party- goer a criminal.

" We do request our patrons to obey the new rule regarding the drinking permit and make sure no illegal activity takes place on our premises. The recent crackdown has been exaggerated and the way the police are going about it is affecting business," a pub owner said.

The police intolerance has begun to take a toll on Mumbai's image globally, too. A famous U. K.- based private members' club has reportedly deferred the launch of its branch in the city -- its Asian debut -- because of the recent " busts". But sources say the growing displeasure is expected to trigger a fall in the frequency of these raids, the NCP and Congress's differences notwithstanding.

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