It’s a case of fresh heat for the city’s after-dark hotspots. The sealing of Sago in Sector 26 has made waves among the high-traffic clubs and bars in the area. You can read it as a sign that the authorities are getting serious about making sure everyone is in line with what was sanctioned, and there will be consequences if you aren’t.
Official action and legal basis
‘We have sealed the club Sago following multiple building violations,’ says Nishant Yadav, the Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh. ‘We gave them all the time and chances to put things right or regularise the situation, but the people running the place didn’t see fit to do so.’
They’ve moved forward under Rule 14 and 10 of the 2007 Estate Rules, along with Section 8A of the 1952 Punjab Act. A showcause notice was put out on April 25, 2024, before the site was put in order in what was called a peaceful manner. It is off-limits until we hear otherwise.
Alleged deviations inside the premises
When they looked around, they found unauthorised work on more than one level. The kind of reconfiguring of the interior that doesn’t match the approved blueprints, from here to the service areas.
Then there were the structural side of things: covered-up open spaces, a changed rear elevation. If you look at the video from the spot, you’ll see the entrance is done up, with a note on the caption about the rule-breaking.
The administration has put forward a few cases in point:
– You have the basement, the ground and second floor, all with some changes of layout
– Cabins and partitions put in where they shouldn’t be
– An extra kitchen, cold store and a couple of toilets have been made
– Metal and fibre sheets over what used to be open courtyards
– Some tin and storage work at the back
Crackdown reshapes Chandigarh’s nightlife market
Putting the boot in on Sago is part of a larger look at the entertainment side of town. Lately, you can see the pressure mounting on clubs and bars in sectors 7 and 26, with notices being handed out left and right for any unauthorised encroachment.
It’s a change in the way things are. The ones who did the hard work of getting their approvals now have an even keel, while the others have to deal with the cost of being shut down and having to fix their act.
Here is where we stand with the authorities:
– More than one venue has been put on notice
– You have to abide by the safety and building rules, no two ways about it
– We may well see this happen to other violators
Security overhang and brand context
Sago has had its share of trouble with security. Back in 2024, there were two blasts outside two of Badshah’s spots in the city. The cameras caught a man throwing what they thought were crude bombs and making a run for it. Deepak from Faridkot was later taken in by the Delhi Police; they say he was in the habit of talking to Goldy Brar.
Since it opened in 2023, the club has been in good company with Seville and Sidera in the 26. On another front, Badshah had to put out a new version of his song, ‘Tateeree Phir Se’, after some pushback. He said he took out the bits that were an issue once some concerns were raised.
What next for Sago by Badshah
Badshah hasn’t put out any word on the matter yet. As for the site, it is to stay closed so there is no further unauthorised activity, pending a decision from the top.
We are still to get the full story, but for now it is a question of compliance. The word on the street in Chandigarh is that you stick to the plan or you will be made to.
