Mumbai police crackdown on ‘silent bars’

After the government and the police came down heavily on the dance bars and orchestra bars across the city, some of the bar owners in the city, came up with a unique idea of soliciting clients. They started ‘silent bars’, which are actually places where customers can get involved in obscene activities with waitresses, albeit at a very steep price.

Even though, these bars have been functioning in Mumbai for a few years now, the Mumbai police has now started taking strict action against them.

Explaining the functioning of the silent bars, a police officer said that from outside appearance these places look similar to other bars. “However, once you enter, it is a very dingy place with almost no light and no music inside. It seems as if you are entering a dark room,” the officer said. In fact, it is so dimly lit that ushers use the light of their cell phones to guide you through, the officer added.

“There is no music inside and everything happens in a hush-hush manner, that is why they are called silent bars,” the officer said. Inside, he added, there are around 15 to 20 cubicles, with each cubicle having a seating capacity for two people.

“These cubicles are similar to ones that are in offices. Interestingly, the table is only a foot wide which can accommodate only a glass or a bottle; even a plate cannot fit there,” the officer said.

Once a customer is seated, waitresses are seen moving around and asking customers what they would like to drink. “During this time, the waitresses are soliciting clients and when a customer likes a particular waitress, he orders a drink from her. That particular waitress then gets the drink and sits next to the customer inside the cubicle,” the officer said.

After this, once the payment terms are decided, the customer starts indulging in obscene acts with the waitress. “This is where it can get really obscene, with the waitress and customer getting into all kinds of activity to the extent of oral sex,” the officer said.

“The woman is paid anywhere between Rs300 and Rs1,000 depending on how much the customer agrees upon.”

Interestingly, a glass of beer costs as much as Rs450, while a soft drink costs Rs150. “This is where the hotel owners earn their money and they also get a fixed sum of money which every woman earns every day,” the officer said.

In the past two months, the social service branch of the Mumbai Police, headed by assistant commissioner of police Vasant Dhoble, has raided as many as 40 such silent bars across the city and taken action against them. “We have taken action against them under various sections, including indulging in obscenity,” Dhoble said.

According to the police, there are as many as 350 such bars currently functioning in the city and action will be taken against any bar which is indulging in such activity.