Banned hookah flavours, ganja, liquor: 107 men, 49 women detained in late-night party raid in Pune

PUNE: As many as 156 people were detained and around three grams of ganja recovered after Pune City Police's crime branch raided a party in Tulapur under Lonikand police station limits in the early hours of Sunday, according to news agency ANI.The raid was conducted at around 2.30am on June 7 after police received specific information about the gathering. The operation involved 15 officers and 65 constables.According to police, 107 men and 49 women were present at the venue. Three attendees were found to be below the legal drinking age of 21 years.Investigators found that the liquor permit issued for the event was valid only until 11.30pm on June 6, but the gathering continued beyond the permitted time.Police also seized three hookah pots containing 10 banned hookah flavours during the operation. Liquor stock worth approximately Rs 9.22 lakh was recovered from the venue.Aiman Sheikh of Blaze Entertainment and Yash Chaudhary of Star Light Entertainment have been identified as the principal organisers of the event, police said.The total value of the seized material has been estimated at around Rs 85 lakh. Further legal action is being taken in the matter, officials added.The action comes amid an intensified crackdown on illegal liquor-related activities in the Pune region. Earlier, on June 1, Pune Rural Police suspended several personnel over their alleged connection with Radheshyam Prajapati, an accused involved in the manufacture of illicit country liquor in Uruli Kanchan.The action was taken by Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill.The move followed a serious incident in which at least 15 people reportedly lost their lives after consuming poisonous illicit liquor in areas under the Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad police jurisdictions.In the wake of the deaths, police have stepped up enforcement against illegal liquor operations. Cases related to the incident have been registered with both the Pune City Police and Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerates.