La Plata, MD – There have been quite a few unusual cases before the Charles County Board of License Commissioners (Liquor Board) but none quite like that of Abhi Aggarwal, whose 925 Liquors in Waldorf was before the board Thursday, Sept. 8 on a show cause order.
Back in June, Aggarwal’s manager at the store allowed his cousin to cover for him while he went to get food. And wouldn’t you know it? That’s just when enforcement officers arrived for an alcohol compliance check at the store.
Rohit Guppta is in a lot of hot water if the Liquor Board can ever find him.
He did not show up for the hearing Sept. 8 and the board voted to have a warrant issued for his arrest.
“The clerk never asked for an [identification] ID,” Cpl. Travis Yates explained. “I went in and made contact with the clerk who handed me an Indian passport. Mr. Guppta told me he did not work there. His cousin worked there and went to get some food.”
He called the owner, Yates added.
“Mr. Guppta said he had never worked behind the counter,” he noted. “He had only been there for less than 10 minutes. He never had any alcohol training. The owner arrived and said he did not know Guppta and he was not supposed to be there.”
Aggarwal’s attorney, Hammad Matin, asked his client if he had seen the man in his store before.
“He had been there a few times with the manager,” Aggarwal said.
“Had you ever see him work behind the counter?” Matin asked.
“No,” came the reply.
“What was your conversation with your manager about this?” Matin asked.
“It was not a good one,” Aggarwal said. “He was fired.”
Liquor Board Chair Pamela Smith had a different take.
“You came into your establishment and you saw someone behind your register that was not your employee,” she said. “I’m thinking this is not a one-time event. If this person was doing this without your knowledge, somebody is not paying attention here.
“You need to get serious and pay attention to our rules,” Smith admonished.
“We’ve heard all the stories,” Board Member Steve Howe agreed.
Aggarwal said he has installed cameras in the store so he can watch the store on his iphone when he is not there.
“Did you trust your former manager?” Board Member Thomasina Coates asked.
“Yes, at the time I did,” Aggarwal said.
“Something I learned a long time ago,” said Member Guy Black. “They’re all good people, but you still have to watch them.”
Black recommended a $750 fine with three days held in abeyance, which was approved.
“You got lucky,” Smith said. “They should have closed you. I will scream to the rafters if they don’t close you next time.”
The board then turned to the matter of the server, Rohit Guppta, who apparently is living somewhere near Richmond.
“You can bring him up on criminal charges if you could find him,” Attorney Matthew Claggett noted.
The board voted unanimously to have an arrest warrant issued.
Master Cpl. Judith Thompson said she would get that process started.
Contact joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com