Abhishek Rai, the petitioner in a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alleged illegal rave parties in Kasol, Jibhi and Manali, has filed a fresh representation seeking police protection and a high-level inquiry, claiming repeated threats following recent developments in the case.
Allegations of Threats
Rai submitted his representation to the Chief Secretary, the Director General of Police and other senior government authorities, alleging that a woman has been threatening him through phone calls, WhatsApp messages and verbal communication. According to Rai, the threats began after the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s June 24 order transferring the Kullu Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The court had observed that the officers failed to maintain public order and instead facilitated the organisation of large-scale rave parties in the Parbati valley of Kullu district.
Details of Alleged Intimidation
In his representation, Rai alleged that the woman warned him of false criminal cases and claimed to have close links with influential political and administrative circles. He further alleged that during conversations she invoked the names of political leaders, senior government officials, a former Superintendent of Police and the owner of a private resort while issuing threats. These allegations have not been independently verified, and no official response has yet been issued by the authorities concerned.
Demand for Inquiry and Security
The petitioner has requested the government to conduct a detailed inquiry into the alleged intimidation, including an examination of the woman’s call records to ascertain any links with influential persons or criminal networks. Rai contended that the alleged threats amount to an indirect attempt to interfere with judicial proceedings, as the PIL concerning illegal rave parties and drug-related activities in Kullu district is still pending before the High Court. He has also sought security for himself and members of his organisation, claiming that their involvement in pursuing the case has exposed them to potential danger, and appealed to the government to protect them from any alleged attempt to falsely implicate them in criminal cases.
Government Response
The Office of the Chief Secretary has forwarded Rai’s representation to the Director General of Police, the Superintendent of Police, Kullu, and the Home Department for information and necessary action. The forwarding communication, however, does not express any opinion on the merits of the allegations. In his latest representation, Rai further claimed that on July 9 he was compelled to withdraw an earlier complaint under pressure from a senior district official. Despite withdrawing it, he maintained that he continues to fear false criminal cases and urged the authorities not to ignore the alleged threats, particularly as the matter remains sub judice before the High Court.
Next Hearing
The next hearing in CWPIL No. 53 of 2025 is scheduled for August 6. As of now, neither the police nor the state government has issued an official response to the specific allegations made by the petitioner.
