Illicit bar in Press Club near Secretariat
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Thiruvananthapuram: An illicit bar has been functioning in the entrails of the Press Club near Secretariat in the capital city.
Despite the Ministers and the officials being well aware of the bar that have been functioning for years, no action has been taken in this regard. The government allots permit room license and bar license to the club owners for a fee of Rs 15 lakh and Rs 23 lakh annually. But the bar has been operating without both the licenses.
A prominent channel reporter had earlier complained against the Press Club bar to the Excise Commissioner. But the matter was dropped due to the pressure from the media.
The bar offers facility to the Press Club members to store as well as drink liquor accordingly and also allows to bring a guest along. Liquor procured from the Beverages Cooperation is also being sold. It was renovated recently to match the deluxe standards.
With the government’s new liquor policy in effect, the bar remains closed during the day and functions only at night. It offers liquor for cheap rate attracting the journalists and have been named “Sanketham”.