Goa govt faces question over rave party bust; Opposition slams political link

A political blame game has begun is Goa after a late-night rave party was busted by the Crime Branch on Saturday.

The rave party was organised at an actor's villa. The cops have arrested 23 people of which three are foreign nationals.

The raid was conducted by the crime branch and narcotics worth over Rs 9 lakh were seized from the party that was going on amid the Covid-19 pandemic on Saturday night under the Anjuna police station limits.

On the intervening night of August 15-16, reliable information was received that there is going to be rave party organised in Anjuna area. Superintendent of Police, Goa Crime Branch Shohbit Saxena said, "It was very a limited invitation-based rave party. As soon as we got the information we sent our three teams of crime branch at the spot. The rave party was going on as we reached the place. 23 people are arrested and three of them are foreign nationals. We have booked the attendees for breaking lockdown rules and under the Narcotics Act and an FIR has been registered. We have found also found drugs worth Rs 9 lakh which includes Cocaine, MDMA, Ecstasy tablets and Charas."

According to police officials, the actor had organised the party and sent personal invitations to the guests. Further investigations are on in the matter and it is likely more people can be arrested. The police are also trying to trace from where the drugs were brought to the party.

Now, the actor's pictures with Goa ministers are going viral on social media.

This has opened a slew of attacks from the opposition in the state.

Rahul Mambre, AAP party conveyor said, "Everyone knows Goa is famous for its notorious rave parties. Amidst the lockdown, many such parties are being organised across the beach belt. We have seen reports of violence. In this rave party, it is very significant because the main accused is associated with many government ministers including the CM and a Rajya Sabha MP. The AAP demands Goa ministers should step down immediately or the Governor should sack them."

Trajano D'mello, Congress spokesperson Goa, said, "The government is doing nothing to curb the drug mafia in Goa. The main accused in the rave party case has contacts right from the top. There is no way the investigation is going to happen in an impartial manner. All institution have failed."

Jeetesh Kamat, Shiv Sena leader from Goa added, "We demand a CBI inquiry in this matter. These people and the particular fraternity has a huge business in Goa. The accused runs a credit society and the CBI should investigate ministers who have invested in this credit society."

Some ministers, when asked, said that they are public figures and hence many people come to meet them.