Kolkata, july 31: Carrying out a sting operation, a Kolkata-based Bengali news channel claimed to have exposed performances by bar girls in former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly’s restaurant in the city.
With the footage of girls gyrating to loud music, the channel claimed that it was shot at Ganguly’s four-storied restaurant, Sourav’s – The Food Pavilion. The sting lands him in a fresh controversy.
Sourav’s is one of the most popular restaurants in Kolkata. But when an undercover reporter from TV channel, Channel 10, went to the restaurant, he found girls dancing within the premises without license. The reporter alleged that the girls were used as enticement to clients.
How the operation was carried out
Agni Pande, who conducted the operation, said, “It was a long process. Actually when we got the news then my colleague Shanku and I planned it and placed the matter in a solid way. Actually it was a long run and step-by-step we got that story.”
Channel 10 correspondent S.D. Panda said, “We got the information from our reliable sources that such things were going on at Sourav’s. We confirmed the information and found it hundred per cent true. After getting the official visuals at Sourav’s we started our movement and everything is before you.”
“There is three-phase security system in place at Sourav’s and we had to cross that. We then found that the dance was going on at the bar on the fourth floor of Sourav’s. The name of the bar is Prince of Calcutta,” Panda added.
Restaurant manager feigns ignorance
The restaurant management clarified to Channel 10 that what the reporter saw was just an impromptu jam session and nothing more.
Sourav’s manager Ashok Pradhan said, “Basically the dance drama as you see in the poster is a rainy season attraction and it happens on jam session on Saturday and Sunday which we want to promote and that is why we are doing it free of cost to promote the entire affair. I am not sure whether there is a permission to dance inside the bar. I have to take a look. Definitely there is some arrangement.”
Police promise action
Kolkata Police clarified that they don’t issue licences for bar dancing or cabarets in the city. But if the report was correct, the restaurant would face sanction, police said.
Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner Javed Shamim said, “There is licence for crooning, licence for singers but for bar dancing there is no licence. We don’t issue licences for dancing inside bars and restaurant. If someone does it on the sly, we urge people to let us know and also inform central pass section in Lalbazar and we conduct raid.”
Ganguly has not commented on the issue yet, nor has his family. If Channel 10’s allegations are proved correct, both Ganguly and his restaurant could land in a big trouble.
–Agencies