Bengaluru Police Bust Unlicensed Villa Party in HSR Layout; Organizers Remanded

Law Enforcement Targets Unauthorized Sector-6 Gathering

The City Civil Bureau (CCB) Women and Narcotics Squad shuttered an illicit social gathering at a villa in HSR Layout, Sector-6, following an intelligence-led operation. Operating under the name Rev Keys Hospitality Services, the venue reportedly hosted a large group for a rave party without obtaining the required regulatory clearances. Authorities confirmed that the organizers, identified as Shankar, Vedant Pandit, and Dikshit, secured the property for a rental fee of approximately ₹20,000.

Ticketing and Prohibited Substances

Investigation records indicate the event was promoted through a digital application, utilizing a tiered pricing structure that charged men ₹1,099 and women ₹499 for entry. During the intervention, CCB officials documented the presence of loud music and the consumption of restricted items. Seized evidence from the premises included:

• Prohibited hookah equipment and tobacco products
• Electronic cigarettes
• Quantities of alcohol distributed without local permits

While the three primary organizers face immediate detention, Bengaluru police have also initiated legal proceedings against the villa owner for allowing the facility to be used for these activities. Officers safely removed the women present at the scene during the processing of the site.

Statutory Violations and Formal Charges

The HSR Layout Police Station has formally registered the case under multiple legislative frameworks. The organizers face charges under Sections 32, 34, and 38A of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965. Additionally, the presence of tobacco and vaping devices led to charges under Sections 7 and 8 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, alongside Sections 7 and 8 of the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019.

Source: The Hindu — National