Pune Court Remands Five in Judicial Custody in Drug Party Scandal

In a significant development, a Pune court has remanded five individuals, including Pranjal Khewalkar, the son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse, in judicial custody in relation to a 'drug party' case. The decision followed intense deliberations in the NDPS court presided over by Additional Sessions Judge J G Dorle.

The prosecution argued for an extension of police custody, citing newly discovered objectionable chats and videos of Khewalkar with other accused individuals. Notably, one chat involved an exchange regarding the supply of contraband, with Khewalkar allegedly arranging regular parties at a studio apartment in Kharadi.

The defense challenged the necessity for further police custody, emphasizing that all pertinent evidence had been apprehended. Judge Dorle, after weighing arguments from both sides, decided to place the accused in judicial custody for 14 days as investigations continue.

(With inputs from agencies.)