Convention hall or hotel? Midnight biryani, menu card trigger police raid at Barkas venue

Police raided Zoya Convention in Barkas after receiving complaints about alleged late-night hotel operations. Though the management claimed it was functioning as a convention hall hosting events, a menu card pricing food at Rs 240 per plate and the continued serving of biryani late into the night prompted scrutiny.

Hyderabad: Serial lights glittered outside, the interiors wore a festive look and biryani was being served well into the night. Zoya Convention at Barkas in the Old City seemed to have all the trappings of a function hall. But a menu card fixing the price at Rs. 240 a plate made the police take a closer look.

The premises, located near the Government Hospital, was raided on Wednesday night by Rajendranagar DCP S. Sreenivas following complaints about its late-night operations allegedly being run as a hotel.

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When the police arrived, the management maintained that it was running a function hall and that food was being served to guests attending functions. The decorated interiors and strings of serial lights added to the appearance of a venue meant for celebrations.

But the menu card, with its price of Rs. 240 a plate, added an unexpected twist to the management’s explanation. With biryani reportedly being served throughout the night, the establishment’s operations came under scrutiny.

Was it a function hall serving food to guests or a hotel operating late into the night? The police inspection brought the distinction into focus, though the management stood by its version.

The police temporarily closed the premises for the night and initiated steps to take legal action against the management. Further action will depend on the findings of the inspection and the permissions held by the establishment.

In a city where biryani needs little invitation, Zoya Convention’s late-night spread has landed it in an unwelcome spotlight, with the Rs. 240 menu card becoming an unlikely talking point.