Latest news with #Khewalkar
Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune top cop Amitesh Kumar defends drug party raid that led to arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law: ‘No reason to have doubts'
Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said on Tuesday that the raid on the alleged drug party in which former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law Dr Pranjal Khewalkar was arrested was done transparently and fairly. 'Media has been briefed in detail earlier about the action taken by us. I want to assure the public that the action is being done in a transparent, legal and fair manner. There is no reason for anyone to have doubts about the police action,' Amitesh Kumar said while responding to reporters' query about allegations levelled by Eknath Khadse and his daughter Rohini Khadse about the police action. When asked about the purported images of the action, the police officer said, 'No photo or video of the raid has been leaked by the police.' The police arrested Khewalkar along with four other men and two women during a raid at apartment number 102 of the Staybird Azure Suite building in Kharadi around 3.20 am on July 27. They claimed to have seized 2.7 g of a substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 g of a substance suspected to be marijuana, 10 mobile phones, two cars, a hookah pot, and liquor and beer bottles–together worth Rs 41,35,400–during the raid. The police said they were investigating who had supplied the drugs to the accused people at the apartment in Kharadi. A court remanded the seven accused in police custody till Tuesday for further investigation. They are expected to be produced before the court on Tuesday. Khewalkar's lawyer, Vijaysinh Thombre, claimed in the court that the police had planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political reasons'. He argued that drugs had neither been consumed by Khewalkar nor recovered from his possession and that the charges against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act were therefore false. Rohini Khadse is the state women's wing chief of the Opposition NCP (SP).
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pune drug party: Alcohol consumption confirmed in two samples including Khadse's son-in-law
A day after a late-night raid on a drug party in a plush Kharadi housing society, Pune police on Monday confirmed that two of the seven individuals arrested had consumed alcohol, which includes Pranjal Khewalkar, son-in-law of senior Nationalist Congress Party/NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse. Reports to ascertain whether or not Khewalkar and others had consumed narcotics substances are awaited, the police said. Blood and urine samples of all the accused were sealed and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis to determine narcotics use, the police said. (HT) Earlier on Sunday, crime branch officials carried out a raid at around 3.30 am at a rented studio apartment in Kharadi when seven persons — five men and two women — were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Subsequently, all accused were brought to Sassoon General Hospital for medical examination and sample collection. According to the preliminary report by the chief medical officer at Sassoon, Khewalkar and Shripad Yadav tested positive for alcohol consumption. Blood and urine samples of all the accused were sealed and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for further analysis to determine narcotics use, the police said. A senior officer confirmed, 'Primary reports suggest consumption of alcohol by Khewalkar and Yadav. For drug confirmation, we are awaiting laboratory results.' The investigation further revealed that a similar party had been held at the same location the previous weekend. Frequent late-night gatherings and loud music had prompted a neighbour to alert the police, leading to Sunday's raid. The accused were produced in court the same day and remanded to two days of police custody. Meanwhile, NCP (SP) women's wing state president and wife of Khewalkar, Rohini Khadse, was in Pune on Monday to meet police commissioner Amitesh Kumar. Though the meeting was initially cancelled, she met him later in the evening. Senior leader Eknath Khadse raised questions about the timing and selective release of the medical reports. 'If the alcohol report is out so quickly and shared with the media, why is there a delay in the drug test report? The Porsche case in Pune last year saw tampering of blood samples at the same hospital — can we trust the system this time?' he asked. Rohini Khadse, in a post on X, also expressed concern: 'As his family, we have not received a copy of the medical report, though it is already with the media. We request the police and media to share it with us so we can respond appropriately and fairly.' Officials said that the probe is underway to determine who brought three packets of cocaine found hidden in a cigarette pack and seized during the raid. Amitesh Kumar, Pune police commissioner, said, 'Blood samples of the accused have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory to check whether or not any of the accused had consumed drugs.'
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Drugs party raid: Rohini Khadse meets police officials, seeks medical report of husband
Rohini Khadse, leader of the NCP (SP), on Monday, visited the Pune city police authorities probing the case against her husband Dr Pranjal Khewalkar, who is among the seven persons arrested in the alleged drugs party case. Police officials confirmed that a medical examination of the seven accused confirmed that two of them, including Khewalkar, had consumed liquor at the alleged drugs party. But, the medical report is yet to tell if they had consumed the banned drugs or not, the police said. Meanwhile, Rohini posted on X, saying that there were news reports on receiving Dr Khewalkar's medical report from the Sassoon hospital. Rohini stated in her post that her family has not received the said medical report, but that some media representatives did. 'We asked the police for this medical report, but we were told that it will be directly submitted to the court. We are watching on some news channels that mediapersons have received this medical report. I request the mediapersons to share this report with us. It will help us in presenting our side..' she stated. Rohini is the daughter of senior politician and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse. Police had arrested Khewalkar along with four men and two women during a raid at apartment number 102 of the Staybird Azure Suite building in Kharadi around 3.20 am on Sunday. Police said 2.7 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 grams of substances suspected to be marijuana and other items including ten cell phones, two cars, hookah pot, liquor and beer bottles, all worth Rs 41,35,400, were seized from the spot. A court remanded the seven accused to police custody till July 29 for further investigation. Police said they are probing who supplied the purported cocaine and marijuana to the accused at the apartment in Kharadi. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysinh Thombre claimed that police planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political' reasons. Thombre argued that drugs were neither consumed by Khewalkar nor recovered from his possession, so the charges against him under NDPS act are false. The other accused in this case include a cigarette trader Nikhil Jethanand Poptani (35) of DSK Sundarban, Amanora Park and a construction businessman Shripad Mohan Yadav (27) of Akurdi. Poptani was booked in an online cricket betting racket case registered at the Kondhwa police station in May 2023. As per police records, Yadav was earlier booked in three criminal cases of gambling, cheating and allegedly causing hurt to a government servant on duty at different police stations in Pune.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Eknath Khadse's son-in-law arrested during drug party in Pune
Pune Police on Sunday arrested seven people, including Pranjal Khewalkar, son-in-law of senior NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse, after busting an alleged drug party at a studio apartment in an upmarket area of Kharadi. The raid was carried out around 3:40 am following a tip-off received by the Crime Branch. Blood samples of all seven accused have been sent for forensic analysis to determine whether they had consumed narcotics. (HT) According to police, the raid led to the seizure of 2.70 grams of a cocaine substance, 70 grams of ganja, 10 mobile phones, two cars, hookah sets, liquor bottles, and various party paraphernalia—all worth approximately ₹41.35 lakh, police said. Blood samples of all seven accused have been sent for forensic analysis to determine whether they had consumed narcotics. The accused include Khewalkar, a 41-year-old MD in medicine, and husband of NCP (SP) state unit chief of women wing, resident of Hadapsar; along with Nikhil Popatani, 35, involved in the cigarette business; Sameer Sayyad, 41, who works in hardware materials business; Sachin Bhombe, 42, a private employee; Shripad Yadav, 27, a contractor; and two young women identified as Isha Singh, 22, from Aundh, and Prachi Sharma, 23, from Mahalunge. Police said the arrested individuals knew each other and had been in contact through calls and messages. Preliminary findings suggest the group had attended a party at a well-known pub in the city before assembling at the rented studio apartment. Investigators confirmed that three rooms had been booked in the building from July 25 to July 28, each costing ₹10,357 per night. Around 45 minutes before the raid, all seven had gathered in the flat. Following the arrests, police searched Khewalkar's bungalow in Hadapsar, Sai Krupa, and seized laptops, CDs, and other items. Crime Branch officials revealed that Popatani and Yadav have criminal records. Popatani was booked in 2023 by Kondhwa police under IPC sections 420 and 34, and sections 66(c) and 66(d) of the IT Act, reportedly for online betting. Yadav was booked in 2022 by the Bund Garden police under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act. A Crime Branch officer said an earlier attempt to detain the group on Friday had failed. However, based on fresh information, they moved in on Saturday night and arrested the seven with drug-like substances. 'The police have registered a case under sections 8(c), 21(b), 22(b)(ii)(a), and 27 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and sections 7(2) and 20(2) of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), at the Kharadi police station,' said deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingale. Police said they are now trying to identify three more people reportedly seen at the apartment during the party,' said NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse, reacting to the arrest of his son-in-law, said he had not spoken to him and was aware of the incident only through media reports. 'If a fair investigation reveals it was a rave party and my son-in-law is guilty, I will not defend him. But the police must act impartially. The perception among people is that police can do anything, so let the truth come out through forensic and blood reports,' Khadse said. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he had seen media reports but had not yet received an official briefing. 'Preliminary information suggests that a rave party was busted and some narcotics were found,' he said. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said the police were acting as per rules and anyone found guilty would face consequences. MP Supriya Sule also reacted to the case, saying her party stood behind Rohini Khadse, wife of the arrested Khewalkar. Sule expressed concern over the possibility of tampering with reports, especially in light of past incidents at Sassoon Hospital. 'We will ensure a full investigation takes place, but my concern remains with how evidence is handled,' she said. Officials said the investigation is ongoing, with police verifying the identities of others who may have attended the party and reviewing communications.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Drug party' raid: Seven remanded in police custody till July 29
Pune: Judicial Magistrate First Class NS Bari on Sunday remanded seven individuals, including Pranjal Khewalkar—son-in-law of NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse—in police custody till July 29 in connection with a drug bust during a suspected party in Kharadi area. According to the prosecution, Pune Police raided a serviced apartment in the early hours of Sunday based on specific information. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) The accused were produced before the holiday court, where public prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar sought seven days' police custody. She argued that further interrogation was necessary to trace the origin of the drugs, examine prior party records, and determine the involvement of other individuals. She also noted that some of the accused had criminal backgrounds and that the investigation was at a preliminary stage. Defence advocate Vijaysinh Thombare, representing Khewalkar, alleged that his client was being falsely implicated due to political motives. 'This is nothing but an attempt to sabotage my client's political career. His wife holds a political office, and this appears to be a trap,' he told the court. He claimed that there was no evidence of drug consumption by Khewalkar and that no medical report had been submitted to the court. According to the prosecution, Pune Police raided a serviced apartment in the early hours of Sunday based on specific information. The apartment, booked in Khewalkar's name, was the site of a party where five men and two women were present. Police seized liquor bottles, hookah setups, ganja, and 2.7 grams of cocaine—classified as an intermediate quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985. Videos from the party, showing scenes of chaos and a woman in distress, went viral on social media. Prosecutor Vengurlekar said that the accused were habitual offenders and reiterated that the police followed due procedure. 'This is not an isolated case. The recovered contraband and supporting evidence validate the charges,' she said. Thombare countered that his client had been under surveillance for months. 'Police have previously followed him on two occasions and collected CCTV footages from hotels. This is the third time, and it seems to be a deliberate move to frame him. My client is not a criminal,' he said. Advocate Abid Mulani, representing two other accused, raised legal concerns over the arrests. 'The investigating agency failed to inform the accused of the grounds of their arrest at the time of detention, violating Section 50 of the Criminal Procedure Code. This renders their continued custody unlawful,' he argued. He submitted that accused number 3 and number 4 neither possessed nor consumed any narcotics, making the invocation of the NDPS Act against them untenable. While the court has kept the question of the legality of arrest open for further consideration, Mulani contended that continued custody of these two accused is unwarranted and amounts to a violation of their fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Constitution.
