Kids party hard in Pune, cops crack the whip

The Pune police busted a late night freshers’ and Friendship Day bash of about 490 student hostelites, mainly from the Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (Khadki), at a city jeweller’s farmhouse on the city outskirts.

The presence of 235 college girls took the police by surprise, even as visuals on television rocked the city.

The episode was reminiscent of a March 2007 drugs-and-liquor rave party busted by the police at Sinhagad in which 280 youth, including air-hostesses, software engineers and collegians, had been arrested.

Some of the girls said they had paid Rs300 each and that the seniors had forced them to attend the party at the two-storey Sindhu farmhouse. While there was no evidence of drugs at the party, 88 students were arrested for consuming liquor without a permit. They were later released on bail. Boxes of beer and liquor valued at Rs17,000 were confiscated from the scene.

The Symbiosis International University authorities formed a four-member committee to probe Sunday’s party. The university’s principal director, Vidya Yeravdekar, told DNA: “The committee will submit its report at the earliest. It has all rights to take necessary action against the students, if found guilty.”

On how the institute allowed its students to leave for a late-night party, Yeravdekar said hostel students are allowed ‘late outs’ thrice a month, till 12.30am.

“Usually, the hostel gates close at 10.30pm,” she added.