Hotel Manager Assaulted Over Unpaid Liquor Bill in Maharashtra

A hotel manager, Mahesh Andhare, was assaulted by four customers for demanding payment of their liquor bill in Maharashtra's Solapur district. The attackers attempted extortion and inflicted serious injuries on Andhare. Police have registered a case and are searching for the accused.

A hotel manager was assaulted by a group of four persons for insisting on payment of their liquor bill at a restaurant-cum-bar in Maharashtra's Solapur district, police said on Wednesday.

Instead of paying the bill, the four customers tried to extort Rs 10,000 from the hotel manager, Mahesh Andhare, who suffered serious injuries in the assault, said a police official.

The incident took place on Tuesday evening at the restaurant situated on Kurduwad Road in Barshi town of the western Maharashtra district, around 400km from Mumbai, and a video of the assault has surfaced on social media platforms.

All four accused, charged with attempted murder, are currently on the run.

Hotel manager Andhare was admitted to a private hospital and his condition was stated to be out of danger, the official added.

After the incident, a complaint was lodged with the police by a waiter from the hotel.

According to the complainant, Tathagat Maske and three aides visited the restaurant, where two consumed liquor. After they finished their drinks, the waiter brought the bill, which angered the customers, the official informed.

All four approached the bar manager and assaulted him when he demanded bill payment, also threatening to kill him, the official said. The unruly customers allegedly damaged liquor bottles in the outlet as well.

Along with non-payment of the bill, the accused also demanded Rs 10,000 from the manager as extortion money, the official said.

Based on the complaint, a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including attempt to murder, was registered at the Barshi police station against the four accused, the official added.

Police have formed two teams to apprehend the accused persons.

(With inputs from agencies.)