Mumbai:
Despite green signal from city police for parties on boats and yachts off the Mumbai coast on New Year's eve, state excise department has denied permission to serve booze at these parties.
Though Mumbai police was ready to grant permission for such parties, not a single organiser has approached them.
"We had no objection with the boat parties. Strict norms were laid down and the organisers and boat owners were okay with it. However, the Excise Department has not allowed permission to serve alcohol in these parties citing security reasons," a senior IPS officer said.
"This is the real reason as to why there was not a single application from organisers was received. The organizers claimed that since there is no alcohol, no one wants to participate in these parties," the officer said.
Minister of State for Excise Department, Ramesh Bagwe, confirmed that his department has not given permission for booze parties in the sea due to security reasons and refused to comment further.