As the NCB continues its crackdown on the alleged drug nexus in Bollywood, the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two drug dealers and it is revealed that they were also in contact with some actors who used to use drugs on them. According to officials, one of the street vendors was identified as Usman Anwar Ali Shaikh and used to work for a prominent food delivery app. ‘MD’ worth 5.5 lakh has been seized by the Crimes Section.
Peddler used to deliver medicine to the customer’s home.
During his questioning, the name of another street vendor was revealed and the police also arrested him. They used to supply drugs in Oshiwara and other posh towns in Mumbai, sources said. Another street vendor was arrested by the Samata Nagar Police Station. According to sources, they used to deliver drugs along with food to many of the Bollywood and television actors. According to officials, Usman was arrested on September 24. The court awarded custody to the police until September 28.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday recorded statements by actors Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan in the drug investigation linked to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput and an alleged link between Bollywood and drugs. Major sources have informed Republic Media Network that NCB teams led by KPS Deputy Director Malhotra, Sameer Wankhede and Ashok Jain will now prepare a detailed report that will include all aspects of the investigation into the alleged drug ring in Mumbai. Sources have told Republic that the OCN team believes the actors were “fully prepared for questioning.”
Several big names under the NCB scanner
The sources reported that the head of the SIT team will travel to Delhi on Monday to present his report. The head of the OCN, Rakesh Asthana, will personally review all aspects of the investigation and the central anti-drug agency is expected to carry out more raids and seizures in Mumbai. The NCB has encountered several big names during questioning of the actors and is working on a new action plan, the sources added.
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Sources have also said that Deepika Padukone, Rakul Preet Singh, Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan have not received a clean complaint and could be summoned again for questioning, as the OCN is verifying certain claims made by them. While Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor were questioned at the NCB zonal office on the Ballard Estate, Padukone was questioned at a guest house in Colaba. Shraddha Kapoor arrived at the OCN office around 12 pm and left after six hours, while Sara Ali Khan arrived around 1 pm and they both left around 6:10 pm.
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Deepika Padukone confronted her manager Karishma Prakash during questioning, sources said. Deepika, who arrived at the guest house around 9.50am, left at 3.50pm. Prakash, who had also been questioned on Friday, was also allowed to leave around 3.40pm. So far, the agency has arrested at least 18 people in these cases. Meanwhile, a court awarded NCB seven-day custody for Kshitij Ravi Prasad. According to sources, Prasad, who is an executive producer and director previously linked to one of Bollywood’s top production companies, has not been ‘uncooperative’ and giving evasive responses.
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