A Pune court has sent 5 accused, including former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse’s son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar, to 14 days of judicial custody in connection with the recent “drug party” case.
All five were presented before Additional Sessions Judge J G Dorle at the special NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) court.
Objectionable Chats & Videos Surface
During the hearing, the prosecution sought an extension of police custody, citing newly discovered digital evidence. Investigators informed the court about objectionable chats and videos involving Khewalkar and other co-accused.
In one such chat, one of the accused allegedly sent a photo of a cigarette, asking, “maal chahiye ka” (do you need this stuff), to which Khewalkar replied, “theun ghya” (keep it). The prosecution argued that this conversation suggests how the contraband was circulated among partygoers.
Frequent Bookings & Partying Alleged
Prosecutors further told the court that Khewalkar had frequently booked rooms at the studio apartment in question. From 2024 to 2025, he is said to have made 20 bookings and stayed for a total of 48 days. During these stays, Khewalkar reportedly hosted parties with friends and multiple women.
The prosecution also revealed that Khewalkar had been in regular contact with co-accused Prachi Sharma since 2022, and that they now seek to identify the source of the narcotics.
Defence Denies Need For Further Custody
Khewalkar’s defence lawyers opposed the plea for extended custody, stating that police had already recovered all necessary material.
“In the FIR, the police had stated they had recovered contraband from a purse of one of the two women accused. However, instead of probing them, they sought their judicial custody and now they want to investigate the other accused,” said one of the defence counsels.
The case stems from a raid conducted by Pune police’s crime branch in the early hours of Sunday. The operation targeted a studio apartment in the upscale Kharadi area, resulting in the arrest of Khewalkar and six others. Authorities claim to have seized cocaine, marijuana, hookah setups, and liquor bottles during the raid.
After considering arguments from both sides, Judge Dorle ordered all five accused to be held in judicial custody for 14 days, allowing investigators to continue their probe under judicial supervision.
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