Latest news with #PranjalKhewalkar
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
Rave party busted in Hyderabad's Kondapur; 9 people arrested, 2 absconding
Nine people were arrested on Saturday night for allegedly planning to organise a rave party at an apartment in Kondapur area of Hyderabad. Based on intelligence inputs, the Prohibition and Excise Department's State Task Force conducted a route watch and busted the drugs party in Kondapur area. The key accused, who organises drug parties, along with other accused — peddlers, from Andhra Pradesh had booked a service apartment for the proposed party, reported news agency PTI citing an official. The STF team has seized 2.080 kg of dry ganja, 50 grams of OG Kush (hybrid ganja), among other narcotic substances and LSD blot papers from the possession of the accused, which were meant for the rave party, besides six vehicles, the official said. According to the report, a case has been registered against 11 people. Nine accused have been arrested, while two others are absconding. Further probe into the matter is underway. Meanwhile, Pune Police arrested seven persons after busting a "drug party" following a raid at an apartment on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor. The raid was conducted around 3.30 AM on Sunday and a "drug party" was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference. During the raid and subsequent search, the police seized 2.7 grams of a cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor and beer bottles, Pingle said. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested. "We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," the DCP said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Indian Express
Pune: Police say will probe source of drugs, accused lawyer claims bid to frame
The seven accused arrested over alleged drug seizure from an apartment in Pune, where they were allegedly partying, were remanded in police custody till July 29. Dr Pranjal Khewalkar, husband of a prominent NCP (SP) leader Rohini Khadse and son-in law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, was among the seven accused remanded by the court of judicial magistrate (first class) N S Bari. Police told the court that they want to investigate the source of the contraband seized and added the two of the accused had prior criminal records. Khewalkar's lawyer Vijaysinh Thombre raised doubts that police may have planted the contraband seized in this case for 'political' reasons. According to the police, they raided apartment number 102 of the Staybird Azure Suite building in Kharadi around 3.20 am. Police sources said that Khewalkar had booked the apartment days in his name. During the raid, police 2.7 grams of substance suspected to be cocaine, 70 grams of substances suspected to be marijuana. Police said Dr Khewalkar was found at the spot along with cigarette trader Nikhil Jethanand Poptani (35) of DSK Sundarban, who was booked in an online cricket betting racket case registered at Kondhwa police station in May 2023. Construction businessman Shripad Mohan Yadav (27) of Akurdi, was earlier booked in three criminal cases of gambling, cheating and allegedly causing hurt to a government servant on duty, was also among the accused who were present at the spot. Four others including a hardware businessman Sameer Fakir Mohammed Sayyed (41) of NIBM Road, a private company employee Sachin Sonaji Bhombe (42) of Wagholi, and two women Isha Devjyot Singh (22) of Aundh and Prachi Gopal Sharma (23) from Mahalunge, who were present at the spot, police said. All seven were arrested under sections of the NDPS) Act and Cigaretts and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) at the Kharadi police station. Seeking the police custody of the accused for seven days, Assistant public prosecutor Priyanka Vengurlekar argued that 2.7 grams of cocaine, which is an 'intermediate quatity' of drugs, was seized from the accused. Investigation is being done to know from where the contraband was purchased, she said. Police said a probe was on to know the main accused in this case and investigate whether any accused have links with any inter-state drug smuggling racket. Police also told the court they want to investigate the accused on why three rooms in 'Staybird' were booked from July 25 to July 28. Police said interrogation of the accused was required for searching three persons who are known to have visited the hotel premises. Police are also probing the role of two women arrested in this case. Meanwhile, during the argument prosecution lawyer Vengurlekar called it a case of 'rave party', to which defence lawyers told the court that it cannot be termed so. Defence lawyer Thombre argued that drugs were neither consumed by Khewalkar nor recovered from his possession, so the charges against him under NDPS Act are false and made with political purposes. During his arguments, Thombre claimed that police may have planted the drugs to frame Khewalkar. Lawyers representing other accused argued their police custody was not essential. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Pune ‘drug party' raid: CM Fadnavis' first reaction as ex-minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law among 7 held
In first comments after former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law was arrested after Pune Police busted a rave party on Sunday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that although it appears that a crime was committed, he will only be able to talk more about it after he receives a proper briefing. According to a PTI report, police arrested seven persons after busting a "drug party" following a raid at an apartment in Pune early on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor, officials said. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested, they said. Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP). Reacting to the arrest, CM Fadnavis said, 'Even I saw it only in the media. I've been attending programmes since morning, so I haven't received an actual briefing on it yet. Based on what is being shown in the media, the police have busted a rave party, and some people have been found there. Drugs were reportedly found.' 'Once I receive a proper briefing, I will be able to comment on it. Prima facie, it appears that a crime has taken place at that location,' the CM was quoted by ANI as saying. The police's Crime Branch carried out the raid at the studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune city based on a tip-off about a rave party, an official told PTI. The raid was conducted around 3.30 am on Sunday and a 'drug party' was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference in Pune. During the raid and subsequent search, police seized 2.7 grams of cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor, and beer bottles, Pingle said. "We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said. All the accused were sent for medical examination and their reports are awaited, the official said. Reacting to the raid, Eknath Khadse said it should be probed if there was a political motive behind the police action. Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare said the raid is a message for those speaking against the government. (With inputs from agencies)
News18
3 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Drug party raided in Pune; ex-minister Khadses son-in-law among 7 held
Pune, Jul 27 (PTI) Pune Police arrested seven persons after busting a 'drug party" following a raid at an apartment here early on Sunday and seized narcotics, hookah set ups and liquor, officials said. Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was among those arrested, they said. NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse said a probe should be conducted to find out if there was a political motive behind the police action. Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP). The police's Crime Branch carried out the raid at the studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune city based on a tip-off about a rave party, an official said. The raid was conducted around 3.30 am on Sunday and a 'drug party" was busted at the studio apartment, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Nikhil Pingle said at a press conference here. During the raid and subsequent search, police seized 2.7 grams of a cocaine-like substance, 70 gm of a ganja-like substance, a hookah pot, various hookah flavours, and liquor and beer bottles, he said. 'We have arrested seven individuals, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh and Prachi Sharma, under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act," he said. All the accused were sent for medical examination and their reports are awaited, the official said. Reacting to the raid, Eknath Khadse said it should be probed if there was a political motive behind the police action. Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare said the raid is a message for those speaking against the government. PTI COR SPK VT GK view comments First Published: July 27, 2025, 16:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Who is Pranjal Khewalkar? Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son-in-law detained in Pune rave party
Pranjal Khewalkar, the husband of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse, was reportedly among the seven people detained after a raid at a party in Pune early Sunday, July . On his Instagram, Pranjal Khewalkar describes himself as an entrepreneur, philanthropist, doctor and producer. His profile on IMDb website stated that he 'is a multifaceted businessman and producer who recently launched his debut project 'Na Hona Tumse Door'.' 'Na Hona Tumse Door' is a music video that was launched under his new production house 'Samar Productions'. Capitalising on the growing digital landscape, Pranjal Khewalka was actively exploring opportunities in the OTT space. Besides, Pranjal Khewalka "has his successful run in the sugar industry, power industry, and the event management business," the profile read. Pune police told news agency PTI that the crime branch carried out the raid at the studio apartment located in the upscale Kharadi area of Maharashtra's Pune city based on a tip-off about a rave party. The raids were conducted in the early hours of Sunday. An official said the Pune Police seized drugs, hookah set ups and liquor, and detained seven persons. "During the raid, narcotic substances like ganja, liquor, and hookah were found. We have detained seven persons -- five men and two women," he said. "All the individuals have been taken into custody, and a case has been registered," the official added. NCP (SP) leader Eknath Khadse said a probe should be conducted to find out if there was a political motive behind the police action. Eknath Khadse's daughter Rohini Khadse is state president of the women's wing of the opposition NCP (SP). (With inputs from agencies)
