PANAJI
The woman tourist, on ventilator support for over 48 hours, and her male friend have been booked for consuming narcotics at a large-scale event hosted by a nightclub in Vagator last weekend.
Sara Khan, aged 32 years is on life support at a private hospital for suspected drug overdose while her friend, Dr Abhishek Singh, aged 40 years is further charged with delaying medical assistance to the woman.
The Calangute police on Wednesday registered an offence under sections 21 and 27 of the NDPS Act against the duo, and an unknown drug peddler for selling suspected cocaine to both the tourists. The First Information Report (FIR) has also added Section 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code against Dr Singh, investigating officer, Police Inspector Dattaguru Sawant said.
The two friends had attended the party that started around 10:30 pm on November 19 till 5 am the next morning. They returned to their hotel where, according to the police, she complained of feeling uneasy. “Dr Singh was allegedly reluctant to take her to the doctors knowing they had consumed drugs. However, when her condition worsened, she was rushed to the Primary Health Centre which referred her to Goa Medical College and Hospital. She was instead taken to the private hospital that put her on ventilator support,” sources said.
While action against the duo is likely after the woman is off the life support and is medically fit, the Calangute police are working on leads to identify the peddler who sold the drugs to them. It is however not known what was the quantity of drugs sold to the accused tourists and if the unknown accused also supplied drugs to other visitors in the club or at other places.
Khan’s family members have rushed to Goa to attend to their daughter.
