Want a drink in Hotel Lalith Ashok? Head for the side entrance!
- After the Supreme Court ruling, the heritage Hotel Lalith Ashok, was forced to stop serving liquor
- The hotel seems to have gotten around the '500 meter' ruling by simply building a wall across the front entrance
- The new side entrance is 710 meters away from the highway, right besides the CM's office
FollowThe heritage Hotel Lalith Ashok, one of the most popular hotels for the rich and famous in the City, has closed its front gate and constructed a wall in its place. The entrance now is the side opening, besides Chief Minister’s home office Krishna, or through a gap in the compound wall. All this circus is to prove that Hotel Ashok 500 meters from Bellary Road, which is a highway, reported Kannada Prabha.
The Excise Department has not renewed the liquor licence for Hotel Ashok since it is within the 500 meters limit of Bellary Road, national highway 44. Â Hence from July 1, the bar at Hotel Lalith Ashok was closed. Â Naturally, it adversely affected the revenue of the hotel. Â The hotel, which had an estimated turnover of Rs 57 crores in 2016-17, is under threat.
The management of the Hotel Lalith Ashok came up with a simple idea. They closed the main entrance gate and built a wall across it. Now the entrance is next door to the CM’s office Krishna or through a gap in the compound wall.  The hotel is all now set to submit its application for new license - stating that the bar is 710 meters from the highway.
The MD of Hotel Lalith, Ashok T Bhaskaran, refused to comment on why a wall was built in the place of entrance gate, reported Kannada Prabha. Excise Department officials, on the other hand, said they are not aware of any such changes to the Hotel Lalith Ashok.
Excise Department Bengaluru North Deputy Inspector C Murali has stated that he is not aware of Hotel Lalith Ashok making any changes in its compound wall. He said they will inspect the spot only after receiving the application for renewal of license.
