The party was organised at the Jetlag Restobar in Rajajinagar to celebrate the success of the Darshan-starrer 'Kaatera' released recently.
Published Jan 08, 2024 | 7:10 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 08, 2024 | 7:11 PM
Rooftop Jetlag Restobar overlooking the WTC in Bengaluru.
The Bengaluru City police served notices to Kannada actors Darshan Thoogudeepa, Abhishek Ambareesh, and actor-producer Rockline Venkatesh, alongside other luminaries such as directors, producers, and music directors, on Monday, 8 January, effectively stirring the pot.
Allegedly, they were caught reveling in merriment at the Jetlag Restobar in Rajajinagar, well past the prescribed night deadline. The rendezvous unfolded on the night of 3 January but continued to the wee hours (1:30 am) of 4 January, defying the mandated closure of all commercial establishments by 11:30 pm.
Located opposite Sheraton Hotel and in proximity to Orion Mall, Jetlag Restobar boldly flaunted its open doors until 1:30 am, serving liquor to its celebrity guests. According to a senior police officer, some high-profile attendees sauntered out of the pub as late as 3:30 am.
The Subramanya Nagar police in Bengaluru faced the music from their higher-ups for remaining a mute spectator to Jetlag Restobar’s blatant flouting of rules.
The late-night bash was thrown for some Kannada film stars to celebrate the triumph of the movie Kaatera, featuring Darshan Thoogudeepa as the lead. A brief commotion spilt onto the streets during the early hours of 4 January, where celebrity vehicles were parked in a chaotic manner outside the establishment.
To make matters worse, news of the Sandalwood glitterati letting loose at Jetlag Restobar quickly permeated the neighbourhood via social media, drawing fans of Darshan Thogudeepa to the scene. A throng amassed near the pub, eager to catch a fleeting glimpse of the stars as they left.
While the night itself unfolded without significant incidents, the ensuing traffic chaos pricked the ears of City Police Commissioner B Dayananda the following day. His swift response led to an inquiry into the actions of patrol police teams, night-beat officers, and traffic police during that night.
Shockingly, the investigation laid bare their negligence, as they played the silent spectators to the high-octane Sandalwood revelry.
Consequently, a case was filed against the owner and manager of Jetlag Restobar for flouting the night deadline. The charges, lodged under sections of the Excise and Karnataka Police Act, stemmed from allegations of the pub continuing to serve liquor to the celebrity guests well past the mandated 11:30 pm cutoff.
“We have issued notices to the guests who were present at the party as well, and we will record their statements. We will make some of the guests as witnesses in this case and the recorded statements will be used as evidence against the pub owner and manager who have been booked for keeping the bar open even beyond stipulated closing hours,” North Division’s Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Saidulu Adavath told South First.
