Around 300 youngsters, including the son of a film star, were caught at the rave party.
NAVI MUMBAI: There appears to be no end to police bungling. A Nigerian drug peddler, who was officially accused of being part of the June 26 rave party at Khalapur (near the Mumbai-Pune Expressway), has actually been dead since April.
This is eerily reminiscent of the fiasco, first exposed by TOI in May, surrounding India's most wanted list: among those the government said were hiding in Pakistan was one person who was living in plain sight in Thane, and another in Arthur Road jail. And the CBI's most wanted list included several who were dead.
Jerry Olukoya (47) had been listed by the Raigad police as 'suspected accused number 11'. However, it later transpired that Jerry (as he was popularly known on drugs circuit) had died of natural causes about four months ago. His name has now been hastily struck off the list. Of the remaining 10, six have been arrested, including Mumbai police inspector (anti-narcotics cell) Anil Jadhav.
Khalapur sub-divisional police officer Namrata Patil told TOI: "We have confirmed that Jerry died of natural causes. In fact, Jerry was arrested a few years back in Vashi by the Navi Mumbai police for drug peddling."
Another police official explained that Jerry's name had cropped up in the list of accused persons only because one of the men arrested from Mount View Club & Resort in Khalapur had tried to mislead the police by taking the Nigerian's name as the drug dealer at the party.
Along with various types of narcotic substances, cash of Rs 1.45 lakh was seized from the party venue.
When asked if the CCTV video footage of the rave party has been seen by the police, SDPO Patil said: "One of the wanted persons had tried to damage and take away the CCTV footage during the raid. However, we are hopeful of seizing this important video evidence, once the resort owner, Deepak Wadhwa, who is wanted, is also arrested."
At present, all the six arrested persons have been given judicial custody. However, they have reapplied for bail. Their application will be heard at the sessions court in Alibaug on July 13.
The four persons still wanted in the case are Deepak Wadhwa, Vikram Holmukhe, Ram Dharne, and Vikas Shah alias Vicky. Around 300 youngsters, including the son of a film star, were caught at the party.
This is eerily reminiscent of the fiasco, first exposed by TOI in May, surrounding India's most wanted list: among those the government said were hiding in Pakistan was one person who was living in plain sight in Thane, and another in Arthur Road jail. And the CBI's most wanted list included several who were dead.
Jerry Olukoya (47) had been listed by the Raigad police as 'suspected accused number 11'. However, it later transpired that Jerry (as he was popularly known on drugs circuit) had died of natural causes about four months ago. His name has now been hastily struck off the list. Of the remaining 10, six have been arrested, including Mumbai police inspector (anti-narcotics cell) Anil Jadhav.
Khalapur sub-divisional police officer Namrata Patil told TOI: "We have confirmed that Jerry died of natural causes. In fact, Jerry was arrested a few years back in Vashi by the Navi Mumbai police for drug peddling."
Another police official explained that Jerry's name had cropped up in the list of accused persons only because one of the men arrested from Mount View Club & Resort in Khalapur had tried to mislead the police by taking the Nigerian's name as the drug dealer at the party.
Along with various types of narcotic substances, cash of Rs 1.45 lakh was seized from the party venue.
When asked if the CCTV video footage of the rave party has been seen by the police, SDPO Patil said: "One of the wanted persons had tried to damage and take away the CCTV footage during the raid. However, we are hopeful of seizing this important video evidence, once the resort owner, Deepak Wadhwa, who is wanted, is also arrested."
At present, all the six arrested persons have been given judicial custody. However, they have reapplied for bail. Their application will be heard at the sessions court in Alibaug on July 13.
The four persons still wanted in the case are Deepak Wadhwa, Vikram Holmukhe, Ram Dharne, and Vikas Shah alias Vicky. Around 300 youngsters, including the son of a film star, were caught at the party.
