Why didn't bouncers break up pub brawl involving MLA's son?

Pubs and bars are terrified even to comment on the brawl involving Mohammed Nalapad, Youth Congress leader and son of MLA N A Haris.

Most watering holes hire bouncers to prevent and break up brawls. Metrolife asked why the bouncers couldn't have helped Vidwath, the youth battered at Farzi Cafe by Mohammed and his friends.

No one from the management came to Vidwath's help, according to the FIR. An agency representing Farzi Cafe only said the management had provided footage of the assault to the police.

Shekhar (name changed), who works at a pub on Church Street, spoke on the condition we wouldn't reveal his identity. The others refused to say anything in response to our questions.

"First of all, nobody wants to rub politicians the wrong way. And I don't think the Farzi Cafe situation could have been handled any better," Shekhar says.

Bouncers need the support of netas for another day. Nobody would want to upset a man who wields so much political power, he says.

"The police took four hours even to file an FIR. They filed a counter FIR within five minutes. The politician always holds an advantage," he explains.

Single men, called stags, cause the maximum trouble at pubs. "Have a single men's restaurant if you want. But otherwise, insist the men come with women," he says. That way, he reckons, the men behave more responsibly.

Haris's tweet

On Tuesday, N A Haris tweeted an apology for his son's actions. "The law will be the same for all and my son is no exception we will adhere to the investigation process and give our 100% cooperation." The tweet also said he had served the constituency for nine years and nine months with "utmost humility."

Double assault

Vidwath and his friend were dining at Farzi Cafe. Around 11 pm, Mohammed arrived and asked Vidwath to move his leg to allow him to pass. Vidwath explained his leg was in a cast because of a fracture. Mohammed and his friends then rained blows on him and battered him with a beer bottle. They then followed him to Mallya Hospital and continued to assault him. Vidwath is in an ICU with severe face and rib injuries.