A local court on Tuesday rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of The Panache owner Dilip Kumar and four general managers of the hotel who are facing arrests in a case related to alleged violation of the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016.

District and sessions judge Birendra Kumar rejected the bail petitions and directed the petitioners to surrender before the court.

Police plan to approach the court to seek issuance of arrest warrants against the men.

Senior police officers told The Telegraph that if the men didn't surrender soon, they would have to face consequences in the form of attachment of property.

On April 29, Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj had asked his men to arrest Dilip and the four general managers - Praveen Kumar, Upendra Madhukar, Manish Kumar and Shravan Kumar.

The hotel officials have been dodging the police since April 26 after the latter raided the hotel and nabbed seven businessmen consuming liquor in one of its room.

Apart from arresting the seven, the police had lodged an FIR against the hotel management, including its owner.

Public prosecutor Gajendra Prasad opposed the two anticipatory bail petitions of the five accused related to the hotel management, stressing that all the petitioners were fully aware of what was going inside room number 308 of the hotel.

They committed a heinous crime under sections 47(a), 53 (b) and 63 of the Bihar Excise (Amendment) Act, 2016 in which punishment can go up to life imprisonment, he said.

On behalf of Dilip Kumar, advocate Janardan Rai argued and claimed that the liquor seized from the hotel room was not provided to the guests by the hotel management in any form.

It was argued that it was virtually impossible for the hotel management to breach the privacy by keeping eyes inside the rooms where guests stay.

It was said no camera could be installed inside the rooms, balcony and other areas, as it would be in flagrant violation of the right of privacy of a citizen under Article 21 of the Constitution.

It was said that after prohibition, the hotel management had issued necessary advisories and pasted that at conspicuous places inside and outside the hotel.

Ashutosh Kumar, the counsel for the general managers, said the managers were unaware that the guests at the hotel room had come with liquor and were drinking.

Deputy inspector-general of police (central range) Shalin told The Telegraph that the police were on their lookout.

The court also fixed the next date of hearing on the regular bail petition on May 4.