Bangalore: In an early morning operation on Sunday, a farmhouse at Tavarakere near here was raided by the police on suspicion that a rave party was on and 101 people, including 39 foreign nationals, were arrested. A huge quantity of liquor and over 40 vehicles, besides musical instruments, cash and cellphones were seized.
The party was organised at a farmhouse in Chunchanakuppe village, about 6 km from Tavarakere. Those arrested by the Ramanagara police included citizens of France, Germany, Iran, Sweden, Israel, Tanzania, Bhutan and other countries, who are aged between 25 and 30. A majority of the foreign nationals are students.
“Based on information, we raided the farmhouse around 4 a.m. and arrested 101 people, including 29 women, who were partying,” Ramanagara Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Devaraj told The Hindu. “Though we have not seized drugs from the spot, the arrested were subjected to medical examination at the Government Hospital in Magadi,” he added.
According to him, Mohammad Adam (21) of Sindhanur in Raichur district and a BBM student at a college in Kammanahalli here had organised the party. “We are interrogating Adam. Invitation to the party had been sent through short message services and websites. A sum of Rs. 1,500 was collected from each participant as entry fee,” Mr. Devaraj said.
“A well-known disc jockey from Delhi, believed to be popular in the party scene there, is among those arrested. The DJ has shared the stage with internationally renowned personalities and provided music in many parties in Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune and Kolkota,” Mr. Devaraj said.
As the news of the party being busted by the police spread, a large number of people gathered at the farmhouse to get a glimpse of those arrested. Medical examination of the arrested was completed by Sunday evening and they were remanded in judicial custody. The farm owner is being questioned.
Another officer said that since liquor was being served without a licence, a case had been booked under the Excise Act against the participants and organisers. The arrested would be charged with relevant sections of the Excise Act, the officer said.
Meanwhile, relatives of the farmhouse owner said that they were not aware of the party activities.
“Some people from Bangalore contacted the owner and requested him to allow them to host a birthday party at his farmhouse, following which the party was allowed at the farm. The party organisers cheated us,” a family member said.
This is the second incident near Tavarakere where an illegal party has been raided. On August 9, 2008, Kannada activists raided a dhaba where a rave party was held, following which, 35 people were booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
