Pune rave party raid: 156 detained, drugs and liquor worth ₹85 lakh seized
Synopsis
A pre-dawn police raid on an unlicensed rave party in Pune's Tulapur area ended with 156 people detained — including three minors — and contraband worth ₹85 lakh seized. With two entertainment company organisers now under scrutiny and minors found at a venue where drugs and banned hookah flavours were recovered, the 'Project X' bust is set to put Maharashtra's event licensing enforcement under the spotlight.
Key Takeaways
156 people — 107 men and 49 women — were detained in a raid on the 'Project X' rave party in Tulapur, Pune on 7 June .
Three individuals among those detained were under the age of 21 .
Drugs, banned hookah flavours, and liquor collectively worth approximately ₹85 lakh were seized; liquor alone was valued at ₹9.22 lakh .
Approximately 3 grams of cannabis and 10 packets of banned hookah flavours were recovered from the venue.
The venue's liquor licence had expired at 11:30 pm Saturday ; the party continued into the early hours of Sunday.
Organisers Aiman Sheikh (Blaze Entertainment) and Yash Chaudhary (Star Light Entertainment) have been identified; investigation is ongoing.
Police in Pune detained 156 people — including minors — in an early-morning raid on an illegal rave party branded 'Project X' at a bungalow-style resort in the Tulapur area of Maharashtra on Sunday, 7 June. Drugs, banned hookah flavours, and liquor collectively worth approximately ₹85 lakh were seized during the operation, officials confirmed.
How the Raid Unfolded
Pune Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gauhar Hasan said that acting on a tip-off about an unauthorised gathering in Tulapur, a team of 15 officers and 65 police personnel stormed the venue at around 2:30 am on Sunday. The party was being held under the jurisdiction of the Lonikand police station in Pune.
According to police, the venue's licence to serve liquor was valid only until 11:30 pm on Saturday, yet the party continued well past that deadline — a clear violation that triggered the crackdown.
Who Was Detained and What Was Seized
Of the 156 individuals found at the venue, 107 were men and 49 were women. Notably, three of those detained were under the age of 21, raising concerns about minors being present at an event where alcohol and drugs were reportedly accessible.
Investigators recovered approximately 3 grams of cannabis (ganja) from the scene, along with 10 packets of banned hookah flavours. Liquor worth approximately ₹9.22 lakh was also seized from the premises, forming part of the total ₹85 lakh haul.
Organisers Identified
Police identified Aiman Sheikh of Blaze Entertainment and Yash Chaudhary of Star Light Entertainment as the primary organisers of the event. Investigators are examining their roles in securing permissions and whether applicable laws and regulations were violated. Legal proceedings are currently underway.
Wider Context
This is not an isolated incident for Pune, which has seen a series of enforcement actions against unlicensed late-night events in recent years. The presence of minors at a venue where banned substances were found is expected to draw scrutiny from child welfare authorities as well. This comes amid broader concerns in Maharashtra about the enforcement of excise laws and the proliferation of private parties operating beyond permitted hours.
Further details, including the specific charges to be filed against the organisers and those detained, are awaited as the investigation continues.
Point of View
Betting on lax oversight. The presence of three under-21 attendees at a venue with cannabis and banned hookah flavours will likely draw child welfare scrutiny that a straightforward excise violation might not. The real accountability test is whether the identified organisers face meaningful charges or whether, as has happened in previous high-profile party busts in Pune, the case quietly fades after initial detentions. Repeat incidents in the same jurisdiction suggest that tip-off-driven raids, while effective in the moment, are not a substitute for proactive licensing enforcement.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the 'Project X' party in Pune?
Pune police raided an illegal rave party called 'Project X' at a bungalow-style resort in Tulapur in the early hours of 7 June, detaining 156 people including three minors. Drugs and liquor worth approximately ₹85 lakh were seized during the operation.
Who organised the illegal rave party in Tulapur?
Police identified Aiman Sheikh of Blaze Entertainment and Yash Chaudhary of Star Light Entertainment as the main organisers. Investigators are examining their roles in obtaining permissions and compliance with applicable laws.
What drugs and contraband were seized in the Pune raid?
Approximately 3 grams of cannabis and 10 packets of banned hookah flavours were recovered. Liquor worth around ₹9.22 lakh was also seized, contributing to a total seizure valued at approximately ₹85 lakh.
Why was the Pune rave party considered illegal?
The venue's licence to serve liquor was valid only until 11:30 pm on Saturday, but the party continued into the early hours of Sunday without authorisation, making it an unlicensed event in violation of excise regulations.
Were minors present at the Pune rave party?
Yes, three individuals under the age of 21 were among the 156 people detained at the venue, raising concerns about minors being present at an event where banned substances were found.
