Himachal High Court Orders Transfer of Kullu DC, SP Over Kasol Rave Party Case

The Himachal Pradesh High Court has ordered the transfer of the Kullu Deputy Commissioner , Superintendent of Police , and the concerned Sub Divisional Magistrate , holding that they failed to maintain public order and instead facilitated the organisation of large scale rave parties in the Parvati Valley . The court also directed the state government to register an FIR , constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an officer of at least Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank, and initiate departmental proceedings against the three officers.

The order was pronounced on June 24 , with the detailed judgment released on Saturday. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Bipin Chander Negi directed the state government to transfer the officials within one week. The court further ordered that an IPS officer be posted as the new Kullu SP, who will also be a member of the SIT. The matter has been listed for compliance on August 6 .

The directions came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on rave parties and drug abuse in Kullu and Mandi districts. The PIL, filed by the Himalayan Environment Protection Society , alleged that rave parties were being organised under the guise of tourism in Kasol, Jibhi, Manali and other tourist destinations, with entry fees allegedly ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹7 lakh , alongside rampant drug consumption and trafficking.

The case relates to an event organised at Green Forest I and Green Forest II in Grahan near Kasol between June 7 and 11 , where tickets were sold. According to the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) report, the remote forest venue had around 50 camping tents , private security personnel and infrastructure capable of accommodating thousands of attendees.

The High Court noted that a Deputy Superintendent of Police report dated June 5 had warned that narcotics consumption, trafficking and other unlawful activities could not be ruled out and advised against granting permission. Despite this, the SDM issued sound permission on June 6 . The court observed that police intervened and registered two FIRs only after directions from the High Court's vacation bench on June 9 .

During the inspection, authorities recovered large quantities of empty liquor bottles, cigarette butts, rolling papers allegedly used for cannabis consumption and other material indicating substance abuse. The court said the party would likely have continued until June 11 had it not intervened. The DVR of CCTV cameras installed at the venue was also seized.

Calling it "a classic case of abject surrender" by the district administration, the Bench observed that permission was granted despite an adverse police report and that the officials had failed in their duty to maintain public order while effectively facilitating the event. It directed the SIT to investigate possible administrative collusion and any tacit approval given to the organisers regarding the commercial organisation of the event and alleged large scale drug consumption.

The DLSA report also stated that two tourists were arrested with cocaine and LSD , while Russian national Caria Kuzminykh , who was performing as a DJ at the event, died of a suspected drug overdose, with a postmortem recommended.