The Supreme Court of India has temporarily halted the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s directive to register a First Information Report (FIR) and initiate a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against senior Kullu district officials concerning their alleged involvement in facilitating rave parties. The apex court, however, upheld the high court’s decision to transfer the Kullu Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to different postings.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the Supreme Court’s intervention provides interim relief to the Himachal Pradesh officials, who had approached the apex court challenging the June 24 order of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. The high court had expressed grave concern over an alleged nexus between district administration officials and the organisers of large-scale rave parties held in the Kullu district.
Top Court Stays FIR and SIT Formation
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana considered the submissions made by senior advocate Madhavi Divan, representing the concerned state officials. The court noted that the organisers possessed a liquor licence and that no illegality could be prima facie attributed to the officials in question. Divan argued that the transfers were made without affording the officers a hearing and that the impending FIR and SIT investigation would unfairly stigmatise them.
The Supreme Court acknowledged that officials cannot oppose transfers, thus upholding the high court’s decision to relocate Deputy Commissioner Anurag Chander Sharma, Superintendent of Police Madan Lal, and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. However, the bench explicitly stated, “But we have stayed the direction for the registration of FIR against the petitioners. We have also stayed the order on setting up of a SIT.” This means that while the officials will be moved from their current positions, the criminal investigation and inquiry into their conduct related to the rave parties have been suspended for the time being.
High Court’s Observations on Rave Parties
The Himachal Pradesh High Court, in its earlier order, had characterized the situation as a “classic case of abject surrender” by the Kullu administration. The court had been monitoring reports of alleged rave parties and drug abuse in Kullu and Mandi districts since July 2025. The suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was initiated by the high court to address concerns regarding parties being organised under the guise of tourism in popular locations such as Kasol, Jibhi, and Manali within Kullu district.
According to the high court’s observations, these events often involved exorbitant entry fees, reportedly ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7 lakh, and allegations of narcotic drugs being openly available. The court highlighted that during the summer vacation period, specifically between June 7 and June 11, thousands of revellers had gathered at venues identified as Green Forest-I and Green Forest-II, located near Kasol. The high court’s order further detailed that participants paid between Rs 10,000 and Rs 16,000 per person to attend these events, which attracted attendees from various Indian cities and even foreign countries.
Investigation Details and High Court’s Concerns
A report submitted to the court indicated that the venues, situated in secluded forest areas approximately six kilometres from Kasol, were equipped with extensive arrangements. These included camping facilities, private security personnel, and CCTV cameras. The District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) also noted in its report that events were scheduled to continue until 11 p.m., exceeding the permissible time limit of 10 p.m.
The high court expressed its dismay that police intervention only occurred after specific directions were issued by the court’s vacation bench on June 9. Following these directions, the parties were eventually halted, sound permissions were cancelled, and two FIRs were registered. Subsequent inspections of the premises allegedly led to the recovery of a large number of empty liquor bottles, cigarette butts, and rolling papers, often associated with cannabis consumption. A CCTV DVR was also seized as part of the investigation.
The high court had previously expressed concerns that the continuation of such activities, despite judicial oversight, indicated a failure on the part of the district administration to uphold law and order and curb the alleged drug menace. The order to transfer the officials and initiate criminal proceedings and an SIT probe was aimed at ensuring accountability and addressing the systemic issues perceived by the court.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
