Mumbai: Police raid 'gay' party, 22 arrested

Malwani police raided a party attended by homosexual men for allegedly playing loud music without permission and indulging in obscene behaviour at a bungalow in Madh Island early Sunday morning. Police claimed that there was "indecent dancing" and "groping".

Twenty-two individuals, including six eunuchs, were brought to Malwani police station and charged under Sections 33 (w) (failure to get permission to hold a party in a public place) and 110 (indulging in obscene behaviour) of the Bombay Police Act. They were fined Rs 5,000 and Rs 1,200 respectively for violating each section and let off at 9 am Sunday. However, the police said that at least ten others who had attended the party managed to escape during the course of the raid.

At 2.25 am, Malwani police raided Sea Shells on Madh Island. Event manager Godawarish Nanda (27), three DJs and a care taker were charged under Section 33 (w) of the Bombay Police Act, while 17 others were charged with obscenity.

"A call was made to the control room complaining about the loud music. We were alerted after 2 am. When we reached the bungalow, we found that the organiser did not have permission to hire DJs and play music. The organiser had also invited six eunuchs, who were dancing indecently and the men were groping them. Some 10-15 others fled when we came. The rest were taken to police station and charged. All of them had drinking licences for a day," said inspector Phooldas Bhoye.

He added that Nanda, a Charkop resident, had rented the bungalow and hired the DJs. "He is a professional event manager who has organised several parties. The men who attended the party were all aged around 26-27 years and came from lower class families. One of them is a courier delivery boy," said Bhoye.

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