Consulate steps in after police confirm arrest

The Dubai Police on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of four youths from Mumbai — Farhan Azmi, Bonny Chhabria, Prasad Dandekar and Shaan Si...

The Dubai Police on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of four youths from Mumbai — Farhan Azmi, Bonny Chhabria, Prasad Dandekar and Shaan Sippy — for alleged possession and consumption of drugs.

The four, all from prominent families, were picked up on October 22 during a raid on the Imperial Suites, a hotel-cum-apartment complex in Bur Dubai, allegedly owned by London-based don Iqbal Mirchi. Three to four gms of drugs were allegedly found on each. Two of the four are said to have also tested positive for drug use.

Sources said confirmation of the arrests came through when the Indian Consulate General in Dubai contacted local authorities in the wake of media reports. Police have registered a case of possession and consumption of drugs, which attracts a penalty less that that for peddling. In the UAE, drug peddling or trafficking could attract death penalty while minimum punishment for use or possession of drugs is 1-3 years.

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The guardians of the accused have begun legal proceedings to move bail applications. Samajwadi Party city president Abu Asim Azmi has hired Dubai lawyer Ali Shamshi to represent his son. The case is likely to come up for hearing soon.

Azmi said he was shocked to know the charges his son was detained under. ‘‘He had called and said he was detained for violating traffic rules,’’ he said.

Automobile designer Dilip Chhabria flew to Dubai and is coordinating with authorities there. Chhabria claims his son Bonny is innocent. Of the four accused, Shaan, grandson of film mogul G.P. Sippy, holds a British passport; the remaining three are Indian nationals. Mumbai Police said they have heard of the arrests but have not received official confirmation.