As the ‘drug investigation’ intensifies in Bollywood, the head of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Rakesh Asthana, along with 3-4 officers, traveled from Delhi to Mumbai to review the case, sources reported Sunday. The head of NCB accompanied by Deputy Director Sameer Wankhede has spoken with the NCB Mumbai team and is reportedly analyzing the evidence gathered to date in the case. Asthana, who took office in August, was previously CBI’s special director and was in the limelight in the 2018 ‘CBI vs CBI’ case when his senior CBI director, Alok Verma, filed an FIR against him. All the charges were cleared up by the CBI later.
Kshitij to 7-day NCB custody in Bollywood drug case; had stated ‘I am being framed’
NCB Chief in Mumbai
To date, the NCB has only arrested executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad in connection with the case, after finding small amounts of marijuana at his residence. A Mumbai court has referred him to NCB custody for 7 days. Prasad, who was previously linked to a major Bollywood production company, “has not been cooperating” and giving evasive responses, NCB says.
In addition to Prasad, several Bollywood actresses – Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh, Sara Ali Khan along with their talent managers – Shruti Modi, Karishma Prakash and Simone Khambata were questioned by the OCN on Saturday and their phones were seized. . . The agency has been investigating the ‘Bollywood drug nexus’ for weeks and sources report that they are ‘unhappy’ with responses from some of the actresses. Many celebrities have wondered why only actresses were being “attacked”.
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Drug angle
The NCB began its investigation by investigating the angle of drugs in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput and arrested more than 12 people, including actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, under the NDPS law for the acquisition and financing of narcotic substances. . These arrests were based on WhatsApp messages between Rhea and others discussing marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD), as analyzed by the emergency department. While the brothers applied to the Superior Court for bail, a special court extended their judicial custody until October 6. The NCB has been questioning KWAN talent manager Jaya Saha, based on WhatsApp conversations with various celebrities who allegedly discussed narcotic substances. Based on her revelations, she is now investigating several major Bollywood actresses. Sources say major players may also face the heat from NCB.
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Sushant Rajput probe
In the three months since the Rajput’s death, the Mumbai police questioned 56 people to date, including several Bollywood celebrities. Bihar police had filed an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty and five other people accusing them of “complicity in suicide, cheating and conspiracy”, which was transferred to the CBI after the Supreme Court allowed it to take over. ED has registered Rhea and her family for alleged money laundering in the amount of 15 million rupees, according to complaints from Sushant’s family, but has not confirmed any wrongdoing.
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