The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is investigating a drug case linked to the film industry.
Mumbai:
Two officials from the Bureau of Narcotics Control (NCB), who are investigating cases involving drug use in the film and entertainment industry, were suspended.
Sources said the suspended officers are suspected of helping some defendants, including comedian Bharti Singh, her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa and actor Deepika Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash, to obtain clemency from the arrest.
The officers reportedly helped Ms. Singh and Mr. Limbachiyaa to obtain bail.
The two were arrested within hours of each other on November 21 after their names appeared during questioning of a drug dealer. Consequently, his home was searched and a small amount of marijuana was recovered. They were released on bail after two days.
It should be noted that no NCB official was in court during the hearing. The court granted bail without hearing the arguments of the NCB in the case. This raised flags and the agency has now challenged the bond awarded to Ms. Singh and Mr. Limbachiyaa in the NDPS special court.
These officers are also suspected of helping Karishma Prakash obtain protection from arrest while being questioned by the NCB, the sources said.
The role of the alleged agents is now being investigated.
The NCB anti-drug agency is investigating a drug case linked to the film industry and has questioned several actors, including Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Rakulpreet Singh and Shraddha Kapoor.
NCB’s investigation began after the Compliance Directorate delivered alleged “drug chats” that the agency said were recovered from the phone of actress Rhea Chakraborty, who had also been questioned by the Compliance Directorate.
The chats were recovered during a multi-agency investigation into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June this year.
While Ms. Chakraborty was granted bail in October, one month after her arrest, her brother, Showik, was granted relief on December 2, three months after his arrest.
.
