Hyderabad: Resort owners in Moinabad have been a jittery lot lately as the police task force has been checking on the couples at their resorts after 11 pm.

The cops are asking the couples for identity cards and also enquiring whether they are married. Ravi Chander, the Moinabad police inspector, said, “We are very concerned as there are a lot of farm houses that have been converted into resorts, and there can be illegal activities going on. The checking is being done because if there are couples checked in, it is important to verify whether they are married or not.”

The resort owners are upset as the cops are not only asking for ID proofs of the couples, but are also recording address details. A resort owner in Moinabad, who has a licence and has been in the business for the last 15 years, said, “We are very clear that we do not allow illegal activities like call girls, belly dancing and other sleazy activities in the resort. But if there is a decent looking adult couple walking in, how are we to identify their marital status? And if there is some problem now, the cops must at least inform us in advance so that we can accordingly alert the guests.”

“We are counselling all the resort owners to check the Aadhaar cards as the name of the husband is mentioned on it. We are concerned about the law and order in this part of the state due to a lot of complaints coming to the police station,” Mr Chander added.

While the police is doing its duty, the resort owners have been caught off guard during this season when the business is at its best.

Another resort owner said, “Since the last 10 days, the police is walking in and checking the rooms of the couples. If condoms are not found in a couple’s room, where else will they be found? How are we to interfere? We give rooms with conditions, but can’t ask them to not indulge.”

A young couple who were celebrating their first wedding anniversary in the resort said, “The banging on the doors at 11 pm scared me and my wife. We were in for a rude shock with the checking of the room and the questions that we had to answer were embarrassing. The resort owner later apologised, but our night was already spoilt.”

The resort owners met Cyberabad commissioner C.V. Anand and appealed to him to come out with guidelines for couples’ night outs. With the New Year round the corner, most of them are worried  about their business.

Meanwhile, to ensure that guests have a good time on New Year’s eve, most resorts have organised cabs and have also made arrangements for guests’ sleepovers in dormitories.

Also on offer are special packages for families with an extra day’s stay. These arrangements are being made following strict instructions from the police to not drive after consuming alcohol.

Piya Mukherjee, a manager at a resort, said, “These aspects are being looked into because we want people to enjoy, and if they opt to go home, it must be a safe journey back. Those who would want to stay back are being offered a 15 per cent discount.”

Source: DC