MUMBAI, January 18: The residents of Dadarkar Compound in Tardeo shut down an illicit liquor shop run by a woman in their premises with the help of the police and the local MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha (BJP) following a surprise raid on Thursday.The Tardeo police arrested Nita Dinesh Hilot (36), also a resident of the compound, and seized two cans of brew. However, she was released on bail later.
The neighbourhood was filled with a foul smell that emanated from the shop, the residents had complained. Women from the cluster of buildings got together and approached Lodha who along with other BJP activists and the police planned the raid during night time.
Police sub-inspector Sriram Mullemwar said that Hilot was operating the shop at the rear of the building. ``We started the raid at 8 pm. The local residents helped us in finding the hidden liquor. Nita was immediately taken into custody and case was filed against her,'' he said. Nita resides alone in the room no. 2, second floor `D' building in the
compound.
The police officer said that in view of the the coming parliamentary election they have been carrying out raids to nab illegal operators fearing law and order problems.
A local resident said, ``The liquor shop was a bad influence on our children. When they came out to play in the verandah they got scared when the air reeked of bad smell.''
A BJP activist said that the raid was carried out in order to solve the problems of the building residents and not to woo them to vote in the coming election. ``The BJP's Malabar Hill unit activists have always helped the local residents,'' he said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
