2 Pittsburgh Bar Owners Facing Criminal Charges

PITTSBURGH, PA — The owners of an Oakland nuisance bar that a judge recently ordered closed for a year now are facing criminal charges for allegedly violating Pennsylvania liquor laws.

According to court documents, Kenneth Plum, 56, and Prasad Margabandhu, 44, will face trial for operating the Panther Pit on Meyran Avenue without a liquor license.

Earlier this month, a judge ordered the bar to be shut down for one year after Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala filed a complaint that the bar on the University of Pittsburgh campus had been operating as an unlicensed speakeasy. The complaint also alleged the Panther Pit did not check the IDs of patrons and charged $20 for entry and unlimited alcoholic drinks.

In September, the bar was raided and shut down by liquor control agents.Nearly 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer were confiscated.

Less than a week later, the Allegheny County Health Department ordered the bar to close for numerous health code violations. An inspection revealed fresh rat droppings in the basement and a sewage backup in the kitchen.