Mumbai: Two cabinet ministers of Maharashtra have landed themselves in controversy for allegedly inaugurating a bar in Ahmednagar, around 250 km from Mumbai.

State Home Minister Ram Shinde reportedly cut the ceremonial ribbon in presence of among others, Maharashtra's Minister of State for Finance Deepak Kesarkar.

It has given the Opposition an opening for attack.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said having a minister inaugurate a bar was "unfortunate". The NCP said though it was not illegal, it was certainly "not right".

"There is ban on advertisement of liquor. If ministers attend such events, then in a way it amounts to advertising liquor," news agency Press Trust of India quoted NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik as saying.

Shinde, meanwhile, claimed he had inaugurated a restaurant, the Kirti veg-non veg family restaurant. "The beer bar is owned by the previous owner of the Rayri Park, where the restaurant I inaugurated is located," PTI quoted him as saying.

There was no violation of law in inaugurating a restaurant. And the beer bar had obtained all necessary permissions, he had added.