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The arrest on Wednesday of five more persons and recovery of contraband worth Rs 50 lakhs in the wake of the detention of 280 people for participating in a rave party has indicated that drug peddlars involved in such incidents had a well-established network, a police official said.
Wednesday's arrests were made following the interrogation of seven suspects in remand after the police raid at Donaje village on Sunday led to arrest of 280 youths, including 27 girls and seven foreigners.
The interrogation of key suspects -- Dhruv Kaushal, Ramdas Hagvane, Til Lothar Kunh, Stephen Irun Mullar, Sharad Muloth Shankar, Shivedu Prabhat Kamal Gupta and Paramjitsingh Harcharansingh Brar -- led to the seizure of more contraband worth Rs 50 lakhs in the international market from five persons.
All of them are residents of Yerawada and Kondwa areas of the city, Superintendent of Police Vishwas Nagare-Patil told reporters.
Those arrested on Wednesday were identified as Ankush Indrekar, who has served a 10-year prison term, Anil Abhange, Deepak Gaikwad, Jora alias Sama Mustaq Sheikh and Ashrabi Fazal Mebhboob Sheikh.
Sunday's raid in the foothills of Sinhgad Fort had led to the seizure of charas, marijuana, beer cans and California Drops.
While 271 youths in judicial custody were released on bail, seven key suspects who played an important role in organising the party were remanded to police custody for four days on Monday.
Nangre-Patil dismissed as 'incorrect', complaints by many parents of the arrested youths that they were picked by police far away from the venue for the party. He said police will file a chargesheet only against those whose medical tests are found to be positive for drugs.
"We will request the court to discharge all others," he said.
The superintendent of Yerawada Central Jail, Rajendra Dhamne, said some 175 youths, including eight girls, had been released since yesterday after they were given bail. About 100 youths will released most probably by Thursday, he added.