Atharva Shinde death: Can drug supplier be booked? Cops seek legal advice

According to forensic reports, the eight youngsters who were present at the party tested positive for cannabis.

Unit 11 of the Mumbai crime branch, which is currently investigating the death of 20-year-old Atharva Shinde, has now decided to seek legal opinion on whether further action to be taken. It has sought advice on whether a fresh first information report (FIR) should be registered against drug peddlers that had supplied the drugs for the party at Aarey bungalow, which Shinde and his friends had attended.

Atharva Shinde, 20, son of Mumbai police inspector was found dead in Aarey Colony on May 9. (HT file photo)

According to forensic reports, the eight youngsters who were present at the party tested positive for cannabis.

A crime branch official has said that the primary task at hand is to determine whether Shinde’s death is a case of murder.

“We are consulting experts, as well as the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) officials, to decide the future course of action,” the official said.

He added that they are eagerly awaiting Shinde’s chemical analysis report, which is expected to shed more light on the case. The report is expected to be received on Monday.

If it turns out to be a case of murder, the police may have to add sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, under which the drug peddlers can be charged, an anti-narcotics cell (ANC) official said. In such a case, there is no need to register a separate case against the drug peddler, he said.

On May 7, Shinde left his Kandivli residence for an overnight party at Royal Palms in Goregaon (East). The next morning, his body was found by his father 500 metres away from the bungalow.

According to the post mortem report, Shinde had suffered several injuries on his chest, head, and eyes, following which an FIR was registered for murder.

CCTV footage that subsequently came to light showed Atharva walking around the area in an inebriated condition, vomiting and collapsing around noon. His body was found at the same spot.