RR warns of more raids on pubs, restaurants

Home minister RR Patil has warned of a step-up in raids on restaurants and pubs in a bid to keep a check on drug trade through rave parties.

Home minister RR Patil has warned of a step-up in raids on restaurants and pubs in a bid to keep a check on drug trade through rave parties.

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On Monday, Patil told the legislative council that local police will be roped in for the exercise. “Till now, the special squad for busting rave parties has arrested 847 people and has lodged complaints against 503 of them. But given the rising threat of drug dealing, I would be involving local police in the drive,” Patil said. It will also help the department expose policemen who are involved in such rackets, the home minister said.

Patil was replying to legislator Jayprakash Chajed, who asked if the government had taken action against the people involved in parties such as the one at a Juhu hotel raided on May 20.

NCP legislator Prakash Binsale pointed out that during certain raids, images of innocent citizens were captured and flashed across the media. “Such situations should be avoided and the media should be kept away from such raids,” Binsale said.