The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has issued a clarification statement after reports of the alleged torment of executive producer and director Kshitij Ravi Prasad at the hands of agency officials began to circulate. The central agency is currently investigating the drug nexus running through the film industry and has arrested Kshitij for his role in acquiring and supplying illegal chemical intoxicants to influential people, including top Bollywood businessmen and celebrities. According to the NCB statement, the Mumbai Zonal Unit arrested Kshitij after recovering incriminating evidence from him during their investigation.
The NCB has criticized reports of Kshitij’s mistreatment, claiming that he was allegedly released by lead attorney Satish Maneshinde, who represents Kshitij and Rhea Chakraborty in separate NCB cases. The statement called the act of circulating such reports “malicious”, “without foundation” and “devoid of truth.”
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Kshitij Ravi Prasad’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, told the court that his client was “harassed and blackmailed” into giving a statement. He was also subjected to third degree and mistreatment, the lawyer alleged. According to Prasad’s note to the court, “he reluctantly signed the statement after nearly 50 hours of questioning, humiliation and torment.”
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Here is the full statement:
“There has been a news circulating supposedly published by Sh. Satish Mansinde, defender of Mr. Kshitij Ravi Prasad, who was arrested by the Mumbai Zonal Unit of the NCB on September 26, 2020 in the case of Crime No. 16/2020 The news alleges the humiliation and torment of Sh. Kshitij R Prasad at the hands of officers from the Mumbai Zonal Unit, Office of Narcotics Control.
Here it is unambiguously stated that the aforementioned news in circulation is malicious and completely false. The Office of Narcotics Control, Mumbai Zonal Unit arrested Kshitij Ravi Prasad in the crime NCB no. 16/2020 as some incriminating evidence was recovered from him. When Mr. Kshitij’s involvement in crimes under the NDPS Act was revealed, he was arrested after following due process of law. His lawyer and his family (mother) were informed according to the procedure. He was also allowed to meet with his father-in-law and his wife at the MZU office.
As Mr. Kshitij was not cooperating with the investigation, this fact was brought to the notice of the Hon’ble Court with a request to grant custody to NCB on 09/27/2020 when he was presented for remand after a medical examination. The Hon’ble Court was kind enough to award custody to NCB until 03.10.2020 after hearing arguments from both parties.
The honorable court has observed in its order of September 27, 2020 that no physical abuse has been given to the defendants. The court’s observation is reproduced below: “From the presentation of the accused it is revealed that no physical abuse was given to him during the course of his custody before the authority of the OCN. In addition, he has no complaint for physical abuse. “
The Office of Narcotics Control reiterates that the allegations circulating in the news story are baseless and untrue. “
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