After the Pune rave bust, only blood samples had been collected from revellers. But following the Juhu pub raid, in which 231 youngsters were rounded up, urine samples too were taken
The meticulous homework by the sleuths of the Anti Narcotic Cell (ANC) of Mumbai police seems to have paid off. Learning from the mistakes they made following the rave party bust in Pune two years ago, ANC officials had tied up the loose ends before going in to raid the high-end Juhu pub, Bombay — 72 Degree East, in October.
After the Pune rave bust, only blood samples had been collected from the revellers. But following the Juhu pub raid, in which 231 youngsters were rounded up, urine samples too were collected and sent for forensic examinations. Result: 109 of the 119 reports - more than 90% - received so far by the cops, have shown positive for drug consumption.
“When it comes to testing for drugs, urine sample gives more accurate result,” said Vishwas Nangre-Patil, deputy commissioner of police, ANC.
Patil had also spearheaded the rave bust in the Pune farmhouse in 2006 and supervised the procedures. That time, no urine sample was taken. It weakened the case in court and let many revellers off the hook. “We learnt from our mistake and were better prepared this time,” said Patil.
Immediately after the Juhu raid, ANC officials had alerted government hospitals, asking them to be ready with bottles for sample collection, syringes and adequate hospital staff.
Police would now send out letters to the patrons who tested positive, asking them to appear before them. They will then be produced before the court, along with forensic reports. The punishment could range between six months to one year of imprisonment.
