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: In a significant move, the state government has issued an order restricting the authority of all state departments, enterprises and semi-government bodies from independently approving projects exceeding Rs 500 crore. This directive effectively curtails the powers of key agencies like MMRDA, CIDCO, MHADA, SRA and MahaHousing.

CM’s Panel To Take Call On Projects Over ₹500 Cr

Issued by the Finance and planning department under Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the order mandates that any project with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore or more must now be submitted to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, for approval.

Trouble Expected For Shinde Sena

This move delivers another blow to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, already reeling from a series of controversies involving its leaders. With key departments under its control, the party now faces added challenges, as they will no longer be able to independently approve big-ticket projects – tightening the government’s grip on crucial decision-making.

While the MMRDA and CIDCO come under the urban development department, the MHADA, SRA and MahaHousing come under the housing department. Both departments are headed by Shinde.

Details On Cabinet Committee On Infra

The cabinet committee on infrastructure, headed by the CM, comprises six members and the other members are Shinde and Dy CM Ajit Pawar, revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, medical education minister Hasan Mushrif and industries minister Uday Samant.

The planning department order also says the chief secretary, instead of the planning department secretary, will be the secretary of the committee, who will move the proposals, which were earlier done by the planning secretary. Besides, the secretaries from the finance department and the law and judiciary department will be the permanent invitees. This will facilitates intense scrutiny by finance and planning department.

According to sources in the government, the decision was taken given the precarious condition of the state finances. The projected debt burden by the end of the current financial year is Rs 9.5 lakh crore, and the government is spending over Rs 1.5 lakh crore on repayment of the loan and the interest amount.

The Shinde-led Shiv Sena is facing a series of controversies related to social Justice minister Sanjay Shirsat. A few days back, a video clip became viral in which the Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale was shown participating in occult practices, performing hom-havan. Sandipan Bhumre, Lok Sabha Member from Aurangabad (Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) has been in the news over speedy approvals for liquor permits held by his family members and close relatives.

Speculations Around Shinde’s Delhi Tour

Shinde’s Delhi tour on Thursday was said to be in connection with the controversies and the attempts to create trouble for him. Another reason being cited was his reported meeting over the scheduled hearing in the Supreme Court hearing on July 14 over recognition of his group as the real party and symbol – bow and arrow.