Mumbai, July 12, 2025 – In a strong show of dissent, thousands of bars, restaurants, and permit rooms across Maharashtra will remain shut on Monday, July 14, following a statewide bandh announced by the Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association (AHAR). The protest is directed against a series of recent tax hikes that industry leaders say are threatening the survival of the state’s hospitality sector.

A Triple Tax Blow

The bandh comes in response to three major financial setbacks imposed on the industry this year:

• Excise duty on liquor has been increased by 60%
• Value Added Tax (VAT) on liquor has been doubled from 5% to 10%
• Annual license fees have seen a 15% hike

According to AHAR, this combination has dealt a “death blow” to many small and mid-sized hospitality businesses that were already struggling to recover from the long-lasting effects of the pandemic.

Industry Under Pressure

Maharashtra’s hospitality sector is one of the largest in India, employing over 20 lakh people and supporting nearly 50,000 vendors. With operating costs already high, the additional taxes are pushing many outlets into financial crisis.

“This is not just about taxes. It’s about survival,” said AHAR President Sudhakar Shetty. “We are being squeezed from all sides—rising costs, tax hikes, and slowing customer footfall. If the government does not roll back these policies, many businesses will be forced to shut permanently.”

Widespread Participation Expected

More than 20,000 bars and restaurants, including nearly 8,000 in the Mumbai region, are expected to participate in the bandh. The protest will also see support from other hospitality and trade bodies, making it one of the largest coordinated shutdowns the sector has witnessed in recent years.

An Appeal for Relief

Industry leaders have called upon the Maharashtra government, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, to immediately reconsider the tax hikes. AHAR has warned that if no corrective action is taken, this one-day token strike could be followed by an indefinite shutdown.

“We do not want confrontation. We want survival and fair treatment. The hospitality industry contributes significantly to the state’s economy and tourism. We deserve a chance to operate sustainably,” Shetty added.

What This Means for Consumers

On July 14, patrons can expect:

• Most bars and permit rooms across Maharashtra to remain closed
• Limited food and beverage services at restaurants that serve alcohol
• Possible delays in supply chains connected to the hospitality trade

Conclusion

The July 14 bandh marks a critical moment for Maharashtra’s hospitality sector. With livelihoods and local economies at stake, industry leaders are hoping this unified protest will push the state government toward a more balanced and sustainable taxation policy. Until then, the heat is on—and not just in the kitchens.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a contempt petition filed by Dnyandev Wankhede, father of IRS officer Sameer Wankhede, against Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Nawab Malik. The petition alleged that Malik had violated an assurance given to the court by making defamatory remarks against the Wankhede family.

A bench of Justices MS Sonak and Jitendra Jain, however, noted that the social media posts cited in the contempt plea did not constitute a breach of Malik’s earlier undertaking, which was limited to the duration of a defamation suit. Moreover, the suit has since been dismissed due to non-removal of office objections.

Dnyandev Wankhede had filed a defamation suit seeking restrain in Malik from making defamatory statements against him and his family.

Malik had then offered an unconditional apology for his remarks, which the court accepted on December 7, 2021. At that time, the court had permitted him to make statements pertaining only to official misconduct of government officers.

Dnyandev Wankhede the contempt plea in 2022 claiming that despite giving an undertaking to the court in December 2021 to refrain from making defamatory statements, Malik continued to do so through public comments and social media posts, including on December 28, 2021, and January 2 and 3, 2023.

On Friday, Malik’s counsel pointed out that the original defamation suit filed by Wankhede had already been dismissed due to procedural lapses. Therefore, in the absence of a subsisting suit, the question of contempt did not arise.

Wankhede’s advocate Sana Raees Khan contested this. The court accepted Malik’s argument and held that no contempt could be made out.

Dismissing the plea, the bench observed that it was open to Wankhede to pursue any other remedies available under the law, including seeking restoration of the original suit.

Mumbai: After the protest at Azad Maidan demanded affordable housing for 1.5 lakh mill workers in Mumbai, organized by 14 groups including the Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh, the government has acknowledged the protest and plans to provide housing based on land availability in Mumbai and nearby areas.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reassured labor unions that accepting houses in Shelu is not compulsory for mill workers. While a large number of applications were received by MHADA for the mill land housing scheme, only 25,000 workers were included.

Due to space constraints in Mumbai, the government decided to construct 81,000 houses in Shelu and Vangani, leading to protests from mill workers’ heirs who marched to Azad Maidan. Following this, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde met with protesters, resulting in significant decisions from the government.

In a recent X post Maharashtra deputy chief minister has stated that the purchase of houses at Shelu is voluntary for mill workers, and their housing claims will not be terminated if they opt out in 2024.

The cancellation of point number 17 from the government resolution was announced. A quota will be set for housing mill workers under the slum rehabilitation project, and a request is being made to the central government for salt pan lands in Mumbai for their housing, reflecting efforts for justice for mill workers.

The government aims to ensure that every eligible mill worker secures housing. Industries Minister Uday Samant stated that Shinde decided in the meeting to construct houses for mill workers in Mumbai and nearby areas wherever land is available.

There is a confirmation that taking housing in Shelu is voluntary, countering misinformation about compulsory allocations. Furthermore, mill workers not securing housing by 2024 will still retain their claims, and a decision has been made to cancel a particular point in the prior government decision.

Additionally, plans for a housing quota for mill workers in the slum rehabilitation project are underway, and requests are being made to the Center for housing on salt pans in Mumbai as part of the government’s effort to ensure justice for the mill workers.