Jodhpur, November 5:

Indian police were ordered today to charge a former foreign minister under tough anti-narcotics laws for allegedly serving opium-laced drinks to guests at a family party.

Judge Bhawani Kumawat also told officers to charge eight other people at the celebration held by Jaswant Singh on October 31.

Singh served both as foreign minister and finance minister in the government of the Hindu nationalist BJP party, which was voted out in 2004.

Court officials said three other party-goers were provincial ministers in the northern

Indian state of Rajasthan, ruled by the BJP.

“The court has ordered the police to investigate and frame charges without delay against the nine accused,” the official said.

Singh, 69, denies wrongdoing at the party in Rajasthan, his home state. A local resident filed a complaint in Kumawat’s court against the group.

India’s anti-narcotics law provides for a minimum jail sentence of 10 years.

The country’s television stations broadcast clips showing guests sipping a coloured liquid from Singh’s cupped palms in an ancient celebration. “It is a very old custom to serve opium in functions like ‘Riyaan’ when near and dear ones are invited for (a Hindu) thanksgiving,” Singh was quoted by TV networks as saying. “At my function no opium was served and it was a mix of water from the Ganges river, molasses and tea,” he said.