Accused pointing fingers at each other on source of drugs: Police tells court

5 held in ‘drugs party’ case sent to police custody, 2 women in judicial custody

Former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse's son in law Pranjal Khewalkar was one of the accused (Express file photo)

The Pune city police on Tuesday told a court in Pune that five men arrested during a raid at an ‘alleged’ drugs party, from where son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse Dr Pranjal Khewalkar was also nabbed, were pointing fingers at each other when questioned about the source of the narcotics and were giving contradictory statements.

After their arrest on Sunday, the seven accused were send to police custody till Tuesday. Those arrested included Khewalkar (41) who is a doctor, Nikhil Jethanand Poptani (35) a cigarette trader, Sameer Fakir Mohammed Sayyed (41) a hardware businessman, Sachin Sonaji Bhombe (42) a private firm employee and Shripad Mohan Yadav (27), a construction businessman.

The two arrested women have been identified as Isha Devjyot Singh (22) and Prachi Gopal Sharma (23).

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Police said 2.7 grams of a substance—suspected to be cocaine—70 grams of substances —suspected to be marijuana—were seized during the raid.

The police produced the seven accused before the court on Tuesday afternoon where they sought further police custody of the five men and submitted that the two women be sent to judicial custody.

In his remand application, investigation officer inspector Vijay Kumbar said, “When asked about the source of the narcotics, the five accused pointed fingers at each other.

They are giving contradictory statements and are not cooperating with the investigation. On July 25 and 26, when the party was held at the location, a person named Rahul had visited to prepare hookah. We have to investigate him. Probe has revealed that accused Pranjal Khewalkar had rented the said room and house parties were held on two occasions in April and May. We have to investigate those parties and who attended them.”

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Giving more reasons for seeking extension in police custody, Kumbhar submitted, “10 phones have been recovered from the location and electronic devices seized from the residence of the accused are to be examined by cyber experts. Accused are to be questioned about the photos, videos and chats found in their phones. The accused are also giving evasive answers when questioned about three more persons, who had visited the premises.”

Defence lawyer Vijaysinh Thombre, representing Khewalkar, said, “We argued that the drugs have been seized from the possession of one of the women. But the prosecution has sought judicial custody of the two women and police custody of the people who did not possess the drugs nor consumed them. Police have also not placed the medical reports before the court.”

After hearing arguments from both sides, the court sent the five men to police custody till July 31 and two women to judicial custody.

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