KOCHI: Excise has received information that Russian women who served liquor during the re-launch of Ravipuram Harbor View Fly High Bar arrived in India on student visas.

The launching was on the 11th of this month by describing it as the first pub in the state. Alcohol was served on this day by Russian women. They came through a private agency in Mumbai, after which they returned. The excise commissioner yesterday handed over a copy of the preliminary investigation report to the state police chief to seek further information as it is not an excise case. Kochi City Police will conduct further investigation.

The hoteliers claim that the foreign women are friends of them and were not brought in to serve alcohol. Excise has not taken this lightly. According to the law, foreigners on student visas are not allowed to do other work. Excise officials inspected the bar on Monday night after a video of the soft launch was circulated on social media. Two cases were registered. The bar's license is unlikely to be revoked.

The bar owner will be arrested

Excise could arrest Harbor View bar owner This is because the exact information was not recorded in the stock book. Abdul Khader, 50, the bar's manager from Kannur, was arrested yesterday and released on bail. A fine of Rs 25,000 will be levied for not entering the information in the stock book.