Pune Kharadi Drug Party Raid: Rupali Chakankar Calls for SIT to Investigate Women’s Exploitation, Human Trafficking

Reported by Akshata Pawar
Pune, 9th August 2025: The Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar has written to the state’s Director General of Police, urging the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe suspected human trafficking and exploitation of women during a police raid on a drug party in Pune’s Kharadi area.

In the official letter, Chakankar cited the July 27, 2024, operation in which Pune Police raided a hotel in Kharadi, arresting seven people and rescuing several women. Preliminary findings suggest that the women were subjected to obscene and unethical exploitation. The accused, identified as Pranjal Khewalkar, son-in-law of veteran politician Eknath Khadse, allegedly booked hotels at multiple locations in the past and brought women through agents for similar purposes.

The Commission has stated that the case goes beyond a single incident, indicating organised crime and posing a grave threat to women’s dignity, safety, and rights. Chakankar stressed that a comprehensive, confidential, and sensitive investigation is necessary, with special emphasis on protecting victims’ identities.

The recommendations outlined in the letter include:
-Establishing an SIT with female officers to lead the inquiry.
-Investigating whether women were brought through fraud, coercion, or other means, along with verifying their hometowns, ages, medical reports, and identification documents.
-Examining the accused’s phone data, emails, financial transactions, and call records.
-Auditing the hotel’s management and operations.
-Taking strict legal action against all responsible parties to deter similar crimes in the future.

Chakankar further urged that the investigation consider offences under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), and the Indian Penal Code, given the suspected use of narcotics during the event.

“This incident reflects the grim reality of unethical exploitation of women and underscores the urgent need for systemic action,” the Commission stated through its official X handle (Earlier Twitter). The letter called for a time-bound probe and exemplary punishment for the guilty.