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Kochi: Russian DJ, 6 others, arrested at a rave party

During the raid held at the five star hotel, police seized 3.5 gram ketamine

DJ Psykovsky’s live performance in Tijuana, Mexico [16/07/11]. (Source: YouTube screen grab)

A Russian DJ and six others, arrested after police raided an alleged rave party at the Le Meridien Hotel in Kochi on Saturday night, have been remanded to judicial custody for two weeks.

While DJ Psykovsky alias Vasily Markelov was allegedly found in the possession of drugs, the others were arrested for allegedly possessing or using drugs.

Deputy Police Commissioner Hari Shanker, who led the crackdown, said police have seized ganja, Ketamine and a foreign drug called ‘Russian secrete’. Psykovsky was found in possession of 57 grams of ‘Russian secrete’, a mixture of several drugs, including hashish, said the police. The party was organised by some persons from the state who were studying in Bangalore and had brought DJ Psykovsky for the party, said the police. The Moscow-based DJ has reportedly told the police about a similar rave party held in Kannur earlier.

Those arrested have been charged under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, said the police. The Russian DJ will also face charges under the Foreigners Act, as possession of drugs amounts to violation of the terms of one’s visa.

“There is nothing illegal in conducting a DJ party. But it infringes upon the law only when the DJ party becomes a drug party. The party was held with the knowledge of the hotel management. Word about the party was conveyed to customers through social networking groups. The participants were charged Rs 1,000. Of this, Rs 200 each went to the organisers and the hotel. The rest of the money went to the DJ. We are looking into whether drugs were used at the party with the connivance of the hotel management,’’ said the DCP.

The hotel has refused to comment over the issue. The Kochi property of Le Meridien, a prominent hotel chain in India, is owned by NRI businessman Gulfar Muhammedali.

In July last year, the Kochi police had raided an alleged rave party at Vikram Chatwal’s five star hotel Dream and reportedly found ganja packets abandoned on the dance floor.