Earlier Parties Revealed: Pune police found evidence of house parties held in April and May, involving drugs and multiple people, through chats and videos retrieved from the accused's mobile phones.
Custody Extension Granted: Five accused, including Dr. Pranjal Khewalkar, were sent to two more days of police custody; two women were sent to judicial custody.
Ongoing Probe and Allegations: Police are investigating the source of drugs, the extent of involvement, and whether more people are linked; the defence alleges political conspiracy and misuse of custody powers.
Pune, 30 July 2025: In a fresh twist to the Kharadi hotel drug party case, Pune Police revealed that similar parties were held earlier this year in April and May. This information came to light after police examined mobile phones seized from the accused. Chats with multiple women, along with photos and videos from those earlier gatherings, were found during the investigation.
All seven accused in the Kharadi case were produced before court on Tuesday as their police custody ended. Police told the court that one person named Rahul, involved in setting up hookahs during the July 27 party, had also been identified.
Blood samples of the accused were collected for testing. According to investigators, the accused have not been cooperating and key questions, such as the source of the drugs and potential involvement of others, remain unanswered. Hence, the prosecution requested an extension of police custody.
Magistrate A.C. Bagal granted a two-day extension of police custody for five of the accused, Dr. Pranjal Khewalkar (41, Hadapsar), Nikhil Popatani (35, Malwadi), Sameer Sayyed (41, Kondhwa), Sachin Bhombe (42, Wagholi), and Shripad Yadav (27, Akurdi). The two women accused, Isha Singh (22, Aundh) and Prachi Sharma (23, Mahalunge), were sent to judicial custody.
Investigations also revealed that hotel bookings had been made under Dr. Khewalkar’s name for parties on July 25 and 26, prior to the raid on July 27. Police now plan to examine details of those gatherings, as well as the house parties from April and May. Ten mobile phones have been seized and will be examined by cyber experts for further evidence.
During the court hearing, defence lawyers argued that the remand report did not clearly specify what evidence the police still needed to collect. They alleged a political conspiracy and claimed that some accused were being targeted without basis.
The defence pointed out that while drugs were allegedly seized from Isha Singh, police sought only judicial custody for her, but continued to seek extended police custody for others who were not found consuming any substances.
Dr. Pranjal Khewalkar’s wife, advocate Rohini Khadse, who also serves as state women’s wing president for the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), was present in court. Speaking briefly after the hearing, she said the case is under judicial consideration and that she has full faith in the judiciary.
The case is being handled under the NDPS Act and is registered at Kharadi Police Station. Senior officers from both the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Anti-Extortion Cell are leading the probe.
