Bhubaneswar, July 25: Police will crack down on bars in the city that have been operating after the scheduled deadline of 10.30pm.

While investigating the attack on a lawyer on July 16 night that evoked violent protests from the legal fraternity, the police came to know that one of the bars on Janpath was open till 11.40pm.

The operation of the bar after deadline was clear from its closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage.

With one example coming to notice, the police suspect many such bars may be violating the norms.

In June, the state government decided to ban consumption of alcohol in licensed bars after 10.30pm. The earlier “12 noon to 12 midnight” operation hours for bars in the state was rescheduled to “10.30am to 10.30pm” to avoid untoward incidents, especially crimes late at night.

Police commissioner R.P. Sharma said the cops would take action against the violating bar owners. “Police teams will conduct raids at various such bars in the city to check the wrongful practice,” said Sharma.

An excise department official said there were 52 liquor off-shops, eight country spirit counters, 24 hotels, 21 restaurants, eight beer parlours, one club and two military canteens, granted licence to store and sell liquor in the city.

Except the off-shops, the spirit counters and military canteens have been granted liquor consumption licence on their premises.

Earlier, only the off-shops used to operate till 10.30pm, and following the recent state government order, all liquor selling points are to abide by the 10.30pm deadline.

The new timetable is also applicable to 401 bar-cum-hotels and 119 beer parlours.

The official said they had informed all the hotels and bars to stick to the new schedule and stringent action would be taken against violators leading even to cancellation of their licence.

Excise commissioner Ashok Tarania said an inquiry would be conducted on the alleged violation by the bar in the lawyer case.

However, the new timings have not gone well with bar and hotel owners, who said it was hampering their business.

“Most of our clients, who are corporate employees, come after 10pm, and they prefer to hang out till late at night. With the new rule coming into existence, we have started losing business. We hope the government will look into this aspect,” said a bar owner.