In a new twist, a Goa-based lawyer filed an RTI to investigate the legality of the bar, which is allegedly run by the family of Union Minister Smriti Irani. According to the RTI, the Silly Souls Café and Bar was built illegally because no construction license was obtained. Adv. Aires Rodrigues filed an RTI with the Assagao Panchayat in Goa.
The exterior of the bar
Image Source: India Times
The bar created a controversy a few days back when Congress had accused Smriti Irani’s daughter, Zoish Irani, of illegally running a bar. Ms Irani, currently 18, does not have permission to run a liquor establishment. The allegations came to light when the restaurant owners renewed the restaurant’s liquor license using the name of a deceased person.
Zoish Irani with Union Minister Smriti Irani
Image Source: Jagran
The Congress party had asked the Prime Minister to immediately sack the minister over the controversy. Union Minister Smriti Irani hit out the Congress stating that her daughter did not operate the bar and the party was trying to defame her and her family. She further stated that she would be suing key congress leaders over the accusations.
The excise commissioner of Goa, Narayan M Gad, sent a show-cause notice to the restaurant after he received a complaint from Adv Aires Rodrigues. As per the advocate, the owners had submitted “fraudulent and fabricated documents” to get the required license. The show-cause notice states that the restaurant’s liquor license was renewed last month even though the license holder passed away on May 17 2021.
Goa Excise Department Image For Representation
Image Source: Digital Goa
The Goa excise state department said that the license renewal application “was signed by someone on behalf of the license holder with an undertaking that ‘please renew this license for the year 2022-23 and will transfer the said license within six months.”
The lawyer stated that he got to know about the fraud committed by Smriti Irani and her family based on a tip-off. He is now seeking an inquiry into the mega-fraud orchestrated by the Union minister’s family with the help of local excise officials and local Assagao panchayat.
🟥Breaking News🟥
A RTI revealed that 'Silly Souls Cafe and Bar' owned by Smriti Irani's family was built illegally without required approval and construction license.
Source – GoaNewsHub pic.twitter.com/BB931ijrxf
— Bole Bharat (@bole_bharat) July 26, 2022
With the RTI’s confirmation, the advocate filed a complaint before the Goa Director of Panchayat (DoP), seeking action against the restaurant built illegally. He has urged the DoP of Assagao to seal the entire illegal structure to take the necessary steps as per the due procedure of law. As per the law, the building is to be demolished and prosecute the people involved in the blatant illegal activity conducted.
Acting on the complaint of the advocate the Goa Excise Commissioner sent a show-cause notice to the restaurant seeking the validity of the Excise license. Moreover, a court hearing has been fixed for July 29 2022 at 11 am for the same.
References: The Quint and Goa News Hub.
Featured Image Source: DNA India
