Representatives of Poona Hoteliers Association (PHA), Hotels and Restaurants Association of Western India (HRAWI) and Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI) met the Pune Police Commissioner, Amitabh Gupta recently. They felicitated him for taking prompt and effective action against coercive activities of copyright agencies, PPL and Novex.
While thanking Gupta and the Pune police force for their strong action, the gathered members hoped this would put the problem of illegal extortion to rest forever. Hoteliers present at the meeting included Suju Krishnan, GM of Blue Diamond Pune (an IHCL hotel and EC Member of PHA), Sumit Sharma, GM of Central Park Pune and EC Member of PHA, Sharan Shetty, MD of Shree Panchratna Hotel and President of PHA, Vikram Shetty MD of Sadanand Regency and EC member of HRAWI, Amit Kumar Sharma, GM of Amanora The Fern Pune and EC member of PHA along with Basha Shaikh, DGM of Corinthians Club & Resort Pune .
The hoteliers claimed that people from these agencies were illegally extorting money from them in the name of copyright licenses for playing music or DJ music during social events, like weddings, at their properties. Currently, three FIRs are filed in Pune for these extortion attempts. The associations have urged hotel managements and guests to come forward if they have been exploited by PPL or Novex and file FIR at the nearest police station.
