Cops recover SMS, online invites for Juhu party

Cops investigating the case of Sunday's raided rave party at Oakwood hotel in Juhu have managed to recover all the messages circulated via BBM, SMS and Facebook regarding the party by its organiser and the main accused in the case Vishay Handa. Handa, who is the director of Oakwood hotel, has been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Erased: Vishay Handa, director of Oakwood hotel, whose role as the party's organiser cops were unaware of at the time of the raid, had promptly deleted all messages that could link him to the rave.u00a0File pic

Sources said that Handa, whose role as the party's organiser cops were unaware of at the time of the raid, had promptly deleted all the messages that could link him to the rave. But cops have recovered the messages he sent out on the virtual plane as they are crucial pieces of evidence. Handa had allegedly destroyed all the Blackberry messages, texts and Facebook updates after the raid. After being taken into police custody, he claimed that he had been falsely implicated. He said, "I never organised such a party, in fact I was called by the authorities to the party. The DJs are the ones involved in the party."

The police are taking down the statement of the two DJs. Meanwhile, the Kalina forensic science lab, which is testing samples collected from the guests, has been turned into a fortress, with heavy security . In all, samples from 52 men and 38 women are being tested at the lab. A police officer said, "High-profile people are involved in this party and they may try to influence the investigation and tamper with the reports."

These samples are crucial for determining whether the partygoers took drugs. Cops have declared that they will also be booking revellers who consumed alcohol without carrying their drinking permits. The police are also investigating two Nigerians who are suspected of being involved in supplying drugs to the party.

"We are exploring the possible involvement of a major Nigerian drug gang," said Vishwas Nangre-Patil, additional commissioner of police (west region). He added that the Nigerians haven't been detained yet. Another police source revealed that the drugs which were present at the party had been brought from Goa. Incidentally, the party's DJs, a duo called Designer Hippies, are based out of Goa.u00a0