Juhu sundown: Court unhappy with probe

The NDPS court on Friday came down heavily on the Mumbai police for its ‘poor investigation’ following its raid on the May 20 party held at the Hotel Oakwood in Juhu. Police raided the sundown party after a tip-off that drugs were being sold and consumed there.

The NDPS court on Friday came down heavily on the Mumbai police for its ‘poor investigation’ following its raid on the May 20 party held at the Hotel Oakwood in Juhu. Police raided the sundown party after a tip-off that drugs were being sold and consumed there.

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The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances court questioned the police on why event manager Surya Prakash, who organised the party, was let off. The court was hearing the anticipatory bail pleas of two DJs — Deepesh Sharma and Rakesh Sharma — who were amongst the 44 who had tested positive for consumption of narcotic substances at the party.

The court was unhappy with the investigation and reply filed by the prosecution, which has contended that the two DJs were involved in organising the party and distributing drugs there.

However, defence advocate Rizwan Merchant said the two did not know that drugs were being consumed at the party.

The court then asked the police why they had issued summons to all the participants only a month after the raid, when they could have been arrested on the spot. The court also questioned the investigating officer for not arresting the event manager and failing to send his blood and urine samples for tests.

“As he organised the event, he would be held responsible. Why was he spared? Why was he not even named an accused in the case?” asked the court.

Regarding the case against the two DJs, the court asked the police to furnish evidence to show that the two were aware that drugs were being consumed, and had been involved in organising the party. It has reserved the order on the bail plea till Monday.

Bizman files petition against Dhoble
Criticising the ongoing raids by Mumbai police’s Social Service Branch (SSB), Pune-based entrepreneur Tehseen Poonawalla has filed a petition with the National Commission of Women (NCW) on Friday.

Poonawalla has alleged that during the March 30 raid on Voodoo Pub at Colaba, led by ACP Vasant Dhoble, four women from Germany were forced into the police van for questioning without being given any reasons or explanations.