Patil said that senior police officers would be held accountable and suspended if dance bars resurface in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and other major towns of the state.

In response to a calling attention motion moved by legislator Vikas Kumbhare of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and other opposition members, Patil did not shy away from admitting that some people were defying the ban on dance bars in connivance with local police officials by taking advantage of heavy workload on the police force.

Patil also confessed that the police were unable to swoop on the dance bars despite the ban as the police were often held up in the security arrangements for festivals and emergencies.

“There is absolutely no doubt that dance bars continued to operate illegally due to the support of local police officers adding that even orchestra licenses were also being misused. I promise, no empty words, that any police official found involved in the dance bar business would be suspended without delay.”

This announcement by Patil drew loud applause in the house.

To another question raised by Kumbhare on the proliferation of hookah bars patronized by the youth, Patil said that the Bombay Municipal Corporation has taken a stance on hookah parlors and the commissioner of police will be given strict instructions and here too stand will be taken of holding senior police officers responsible for the hookah bars, Patil added.