A late-night enforcement operation in Dehradun has triggered scrutiny after a senior officer’s alleged presence at a pub raised questions about coordination within the Uttarakhand Police. The incident occurred at a bar on Rajpur Road that was reportedly operating beyond the mandated 11 pm closing time, part of stricter rules imposed after recent law-and-order concerns in the city.
A police team led by City SP Pramod Kumar reached the venue around 1 am to enforce closure following reports of continued operations past midnight. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Rajiv Swarup was reportedly present at the location. Claims circulated that his presence led to hesitation or delay in police action, with allegations that enforcement could not proceed immediately.
The matter escalated when senior officers, including the district police chief, arrived at the scene and eventually ensured that the establishment was shut. The episode has since prompted an internal review, with headquarters seeking a detailed report from both field officers and senior leadership within a fixed timeframe. Authorities are also examining CCTV footage to reconstruct the sequence of events and verify what transpired on the ground.
Rajiv Swarup has denied allegations of attending a late-night gathering or interfering with enforcement, stating that he was merely passing through the area with family and raised concerns about the scale of police deployment. He described the circulating claims as inaccurate, adding that his presence was incidental and unrelated to the bar’s operations.
The controversy comes in the backdrop of a stricter crackdown on nightlife violations following a recent fatal shooting linked to a late-night establishment in the city. With enforcement now under closer scrutiny, the incident has highlighted the importance of clear command structure, accountability, and consistent application of rules, especially when senior officials are involved in situations requiring operational action by field units.
