In order to ensure that the Juhu rave party case does not suffer due to faulty paperwork, the police has roped in the anti-narcotics cell(ANC) to help with all paperwork related to the case — right from panchnamas to the chargesheet.
The main focus, sources said, is to build a watertight case, which will stand up to the demands of the complicated Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to police sources, officers with the ANC accompanied the police in its raid on Oakwood Hotel in Juhu on Sunday night. The narcotics police was brought in so that they could be consulted while preparing panchnamas that were made immediately after the raid.
“ANC officers are also being consulted at every step of the paperwork,and will be part of the investigation till we file the chargesheet.
They will personally oversee the chargesheet so that it is strong enough to stand in an NDPS court,” said an officer connected to the investigation.
The NDPS is a very complex act with several loopholes that are exploited by defense lawyers when drug-related case go to court. The ANC itself has suffered due to this, and has a poor conviction rate.
The ANC regularly holds workshops for its personnel, where lawyers and judges lecture them as to how to prepare a watertight NDPS case.
Taking this into view, the police has brought in ANC officials on a consulting basis.
Four former ANC officers, who are now with the Mumbai police, have been roped in to find out who sold the drugs that were seized during Sundays rave party. The police is also probing the role of a mysterious, hitherto unidentified woman, who seems to have played a major part in organising the rave party and sending out the invites for it.
The police has also initiated an inquiry into reports that some of the detainees were seen smoking cigarettes on the premises of the Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle. At the time, the detainees were officially under police custody and were not supposed to be allowed to smoke.
Statements of all policemen who were at the hospital at the time will be recorded in connection with the incident.