Police suspect international connection in rave party case

Pune, Mar 5 (UNI) The police suspect the involvement of Israeli and Russian drug peddlers in the rave party at a hotel in Khanapur near here from where 280 youths were arrested yesterday.

Superintendent of Police Vishwas Nangre-Patil told reporters here today most of the youths hailed from affluent families.

''There is a connection with some Israeli and Russian drug peddlers. The main accused, who organised the party, are known drug peddlers. They include Dhruv Pavan Kaushal (22) and 27-year-old Paramjitsingh Harcharan Singh Brar (both from Pune), and Shania, an Irish woman, who is a known international drug peddler and has a red corner notice besides three cases against her in Ireland. She was to bring 1500 bottles of California Drop but did not arrive," Mr Nangre Patil said.

Others involved include farm-house owner Ramdas Hagavane from Donje Village, Sharad Mulot Shankar, Shivendu Prabhat Kumar Gupta, S Achhyut Vaje (24), and Simrut Harish Silmali (24) -- all residents of Mumbai and Stephen Ervin Muller and Christopher both from Germany. Another main accused is identified as Geoffrey, he said.

''We are sharing information with the Mumbai Police and will work with them in cracking the case,'' Mr Nangre-Patil said adding, that such rave parties happen mostly in Goa, Mumbai and other places.

Dhruv has attended most of these parties during the last three years, he added.

One of the German national arrested claimed that he was only a DJ and was supposed to play trance music at the party.

Almost 60 per cent of the arrested youths were IT professionals or call centre employees, Mr Nangre-Patil said.

''Medical tests have been performed and blood samples taken for drugs and alcohol content of all the arrested. The results will take at least a month,'' he said.

UNI