Former Minister Eknath Khadse’s Son-in-Law Among Seven Arrested in Pune Rave Party Raid

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In a high-profile raid conducted by the Pune Police Crime Branch, seven individuals were arrested from a studio apartment in the Kharadi area during the early hours of Sunday. Among those detained was Dr. Pranjal Khewalkar, the son-in-law of senior Maharashtra politician and former minister Eknath Khadse.

Acting on a tip-off, the police uncovered what appeared to be a rave-style gathering. During the operation, authorities seized 2.5 grams of suspected cocaine, 70 grams of marijuana, several liquor bottles, and hookah equipment. The raid was carried out at a property located within a premium residential complex in Kharadi.

Those detained include five men and two women, all of whom were taken to Sassoon General Hospital for medical examination. Following the raid, police also searched Khewalkar’s residence in Hadapsar and seized electronic devices, including a laptop, hard drives, and pen drives for further investigation.

The arrested individuals were identified as Nikhil Poptani, Sameer Sayyad, Shripad Yadav, Sachin Bhombe, Isha Singh, and Prachi Sharma, in addition to Khewalkar. According to police, at least two of the individuals have past criminal records. Charges have been filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and sections related to tobacco and alcohol regulations.

In response to the development, Eknath Khadse suggested the possibility of political motivation behind the arrests, pointing to ongoing tensions and previous allegations targeting him. However, he emphasized that if wrongdoing is proven, the law should take its course, while cautioning against any politically driven false implication.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders also raised concerns, indicating that the action could be part of a broader political vendetta. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis acknowledged the seriousness of the case, stating that the matter is under review and he will comment further once briefed by officials.

A local court has remanded all seven accused to two days of police custody to allow for continued investigation into the narcotics sources and network possibly linked to the incident. The case has garnered widespread attention due to the political connections of one of the accused, and authorities are under pressure to conduct a thorough and impartial inquiry.