Pune cops raid weekend party,arrest 300

Rural police said they raided the party at the restaurant-cum-lounge off the Pune Nagar Road where very loud music was being played and liquor was being served without proper permit.

Additional superintendent of police Ravindrasinh Pardeshi said,“As per primary information,the restaurant is owned by police officer Rajnish Nirmal and his wife. They have leased out the property. We are yet to get the ownership and lease documents. Action will be initiated against the owner,too. We seized liquor worth Rs 9.8 lakh illegally stored in the bar,besides cash.”

The lounge is located on a plot more than one acre in area and is surrounded by small industrial units and houses. The premises have a restaurant and a dance floor in a permanent structure.

Those arrested were released on bail a few hours after their blood samples were collected. The police also arrested four organisers,Harmit Sahani,Abdul Zaheer Abbas Jaleel,who runs the lounge,and two managers Saud Anwari an Shreyas Tanna.

Pardeshi said,“The organisers had a one-day permit from the excise department for serving liquor between 7 pm and 11 pm. The party was on in full swing at 1 am when we raided it. We called a medical team from the Sassoon Hospital to the site for the tests.”

The organisers were again put under arrest in the afternoon and will be produced in court on Monday. A senior police officer said,“The owners of the property will be brought to book.”

Nirmal said,“We have leased the property out for five years. The terms of agreement clearly mention that the other party would abide by norms.”

The lawyer of the organisers,Rahul Dindokar said,“My clients had a one-day permit. The lounge was closing down at 11 pm. By 11.45,cops arrived and raided the party.”

A BMW,which had a sticker saying ‘Municipal corporation member’ on it,was seen parked outside the lounge when the raid was being carried out. Senior police officers said some kin of one of the PMC corporators might have come to the party and that the name would come to light after the lists are checked.