Now once again the floodgates of this controversy have opened as NCB who is digging deeper into the connection of the drug mafia with SSR’s death has now charged Rhea Chakraborty and 35 other accused including Showik Chakraborty for their involvement in drug trafficking. According to the charge sheet, Rhea and others were involved in the purchase, selling, transport, and distribution of drugs in high society and among Bollywood celebs.
They have also been accused of supporting/financing drug trafficking of marijuana, LSD, hashish, cocaine, and various other narcotic drugs as well as psychotropic substances. If the charges against Rhea are proved in court she faces imprisonment of anywhere between 12 to 20 years.
This latest update in SSR’s death case has brought back the campaign against Rhea once again into the limelight with full force. Moreover, the interview of Sushant’s sister Priyanka Singh on national television has also once again triggered national interest in the case which has been lying dormant for the last more than a year.
Rhea Chakraborty seems unaffected by this entire storm in media as she was spotted outside her gym in the morning today and wished the lurking paparazzi with a typical namaste and moved forward towards her car. Just as there are SSR supporters there are Rhea supporters as well and many A-listed Bollywood families have been supporting the Jalebi actress. Hence it would be interesting to watch whether the truth finally comes out or keeps on dragging similar to the Jiah Khan suicide case.
The NCB took Showik and Miranda for questioning at its office after conducting searches for two hours.
Sushant was found dead in his Bandra flat here on June 14. As the scope of the probe keeps increasing everyday since the Enforcement Directorate, CBI and the NCB joined in -- the drug angle has thrown up a number of leads.
NCB Deputy Director K.P.S. Malhotra told the media that the homes of Showik, who is Sushant's girl friend Rhea Chakraborty's brother and that of Miranda were being searched, but declined to elaborate.
Around 6.30 a.m., the NCB teams started the raids, which came a day after the Mumbai court sent alleged drug peddler Zaid Vilatra to seven-day NCB custody.
The raids are being carried out under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
A strong posse of policemen were deployed outside the PrimRose housing society at Juhu Tara Road in Mumbai, the rented flat of the Chakrabortys.
Miranda and Showik were whisked off for further investigation by the NCB.
The NCB registered a case on August 26 after the Enforcement Directorate wrote to it. On the intervening night of August 27-28, the narco team carried out searches in Mumbai and two persons, namely Abbas Lakhani and Karan Arora were arrested, and 'bud' (curated marijuana) was recovered from their possession. There were a few mentions of 'bud' in purported social media messages between people involved in the case.
The official had said that the detailed network analysis and the follow up investigation, uncovered the links between Lakhani and Vilatra, who also disclosed that he earns a substantial amount of money by drug peddling, especially bud.
"Based on Vilatra interrogation, Abdul Basit Parihar was made to join the investigation. Parihar's links with earlier accused persons were also established based on preliminary inquiry details submitted by the ED," the official said.
NCB source said that Parihar had connections with Miranda, who was also the close associate of Rhea. Miranda is accused of procuring drugs on the instructions of Showik.
The NCB registered a case against Rhea, her brother Showik, talent manager Jaya Saha, Sushant's co-manager Shruti Modi, and Goa-based hotelier Gaurav Arya under Sections 20 (b) 28, 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The NCB case was registered following the WhatsApp messages between Rhea and Shruti Modi, Miranda and Pithani that came to light.
(IANS)
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The NCB teams on Friday raided the residences of Rhea Chakraborty. The raids hold significance as it was conducted after the Mumbai court sent an alleged drug peddler Zaid Vilatra to seven-day custody of the NCB.
Earlier, the NCB had registered a case against Rhea, her brother Showik, Sushant Singh Rajput's talent manager, Goa-based hotelier Gaurav Arya and others under Sections 20 (b) 28, 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
On the other hand, top sources told Republic Media Network that Abdul Basit Parihar- one of the two people arrested by the NCB in connection with the drug trafficking probe linked to the Sushant's case, used to supply drugs to Showik and then the latter was passing it on to others.
According to sources, Abdul Basit was in touch with a prominent drug peddler named Sohail who was allegedly providing buds. Showik used to took Basit to parties and established his contacts, said sources.
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According to NCB officials, the duo was arrested after 10 hours of questioning.
Earlier in the day, the NCB also carried out searches at the residences of Showik and Miranda. They also seized Showik's laptop and mobile phone.
The NCB had also told a court that Showik used to order ganja and marijuana from drug-peddler Abdul Basit Parihar and make payments to him over Google Pay.
The revelations, made by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a Mumbai court as Parihar was produced before it, came after it started a probe into the drug angle in the case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Bandra flat on June 14.
The court sent Parihar to the NCB's custody till September 9.
NCB is the third Central agency to join the probe into the death of Sushant, after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to NCB officials, drug-peddler Zaid Vilatra, who has also arrested, in his statement to the agency, disclosed that Parihar used to be the "receiver" of ganja or marijuana from him.
"Parihar, in his statement, revealed that he used to procure drugs from Vilatra and absconding accused Kaizan Ebrahim, as per instructions of Showik, and was directing them to deliver contraband to Samuel Miranda, the house manager of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput," the NCB said.
The NCB said that there are other instances where Parihar facilitated the drugs delivery and he was in contact with Showik. "The payment for the drugs was done by Showik to Parihar through Google Pay account," the NCB claimed.
The NCB also said that it is clear from the statement and electronic evidence gathered by the agency that Parihar is an active member of drug syndicate connected with high society personalities.
Parihar was arrested by the NCB on Thursday evening by the NCB, while Vilatra was arrested on Wednesday and sent to the agency's custody till September 9.
Showik and Miranda are being questioned by the NCB at its office here. The NCB officials in the morning also carried out searches on Friday morning at the residential premises of the two and also took the laptop and mobile phone of Showik.
The NCB registered a case on August 26 on the ED wrote to it about the drugs angle, naming Rhea, her brother, talent manager Jaya Saha, Sushant's co-manager Shruti Modi, and Goa-based hotelier Gaurav Arya under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. This followed WhatsApp messages between Rhea and Shruti Modi, Miranda and Sushant's flatmate Siddharth Pithani coming to light.
On the intervening night of August 27-28, the agency carried out searches in Mumbai and arrested Abbas Lakhani and Karan Arora, seizing 'bud' (curated marijuana) from their possession.
There were a few mentions of 'bud' in purported social media messages between people involved in the case.
According to an NCB official, detailed network analysis and the follow up investigation, uncovered the links between Lakhani and Vilatra, who also disclosed that he earns a substantial amount of money by drug peddling, especially bud.
Based on Vilatra's interrogation, Parihar was also questioned, and his links with Showik and Miranda were established, based on preliminary inquiry details submitted by the ED, the official said.
(IANS)
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Showik is brother of Rhea Chakraborty, who is the main accused in the case, while Miranda was Rajput's house manager.
They were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on Friday nightafter over over 10 hours of questioning.
The probe agency will produce the duo before a magistrate court on Saturday, sources said.
Besides Showik and Miranda, the NCB has already arrested Zaid Vilatra (21) and Abdel Basit Parihar (23). They are currently in the probe agency's custody.
It is probing the drug angle in this case under criminal sections of the NDPS Act after the ED shared with it a report following the cloning of two mobile phones of Rhea Chakraborty.
Various angles surrounding the death of Rajput are being probed by three agencies with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) being the other two.
Rajput was found dead at his flat in Mumbai's Bandra on June 14.
(PTI)
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Showik is brother of the main accused in the case, Rhea Chakraborty, while Miranda was house manager of the deceased actor.
They were arrested on Friday night under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act after questioning of 10 hours.
Narcotics Control Bureau on Friday night arrested her brother Showik and Sushant Singh Rajput’s house manager Samuel Miranda as it probed the drug angle in the death of the Bollywood star.
According to NCB officials, the duo was arrested after 10 hours of questioning.
Earlier in the day, the NCB also carried out searches at the residences of Showik and Miranda. They also seized Showik’s laptop and mobile phone.
The NCB had also told a court that Showik used to order ganja and marijuana from drug-peddler Abdul Basit Parihar and make payments to him over Google Pay.
The revelations, made by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a Mumbai court as Parihar was produced before it, came after it started a probe into the drug angle in the case of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Bandra flat on June 14.
(With Agency Inputs)
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"Congratulations India, you have arrested my son, I'm sure next on the line is my daughter and I don't know who is next thereafter. You have effectively demolished a middle-class family. But of course, for the sake of justice everything is justified. Jai hind," Rhea's father Indrajit Chakraborty, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Army, said in the statement.
Indrajit Chakraborty's statement came a day after his son Showik was arrested on Friday as part of the probe in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death along with the late actor's house manager Samuel Miranda. They are in the custody of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) till September 9.
Rhea, who was Sushant's girlfriend, has been summoned for an NCB grilling on Sunday morning.
Ahead of her arrival for the NCB interrogation on Sunday, the actress' lawyer Satish Maneshinde issued a statement.
"Rhea Chakraborty is ready for arrest as this is a Witch Hunt and if loving someone is a crime she will face the consequences of her love," Maneshinde said in his statement.
"Being innocent, she has not approached any court for Anticipatory Bail in all the cases foisted by Bihar Police now with CBI, ED and NCB," he added.
(IANS)
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A senior NCB official told IANS that Malhotra has been arrested by the agency after his involvement was found in the case. He was taken by the NCB from his home in Mumbai after it carried out searches.
The official said that he will be produced before a court later in the day. This is the 15th arrest in the case so far by the NCB.
Sushant was found dead in his Bandra home flat on June 14 -- triggering a huge political row, an upheaval in Bollywood and simultaneous investigations by the NCB, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and even the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The NCB arrested Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty on September 8, her brother Showik, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda on September 4, and his personal staff Dipesh Sawant among several others in the last few days.
The NCB on Sunday also arrested six more people in connection with the case, including those who supplied drugs to the late actor through his girlfriend Rhea's brother Showik and others.
The six drug peddlers arrested on Sunday were identified as Karanjeet Singh Anand, Dwayne Fernandes, Sanket Patel, Ankush Anreja, Sandeep Gupta and Aftab Fateh Ansari.
An NCB source said that the drug law enforcement agency has also seized the mobile phone of Rhea's mother Sandhya, which was earlier not submitted by her to the financial probe agency. The source said that the NCB will check the phone if the calls or messages were shared from Sandhya's phone for the procurement of drugs.
(IANS)
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Shortly afterwards she and her brother Showik's lawyer Satish Maneshinde moved the Bombay High Court for bail.
"Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty have filed a bail application in Bombay High Court. It is coming up for hearing on September 23 before Justice S.V. Kotwal," said Maneshinde.
The actress was produced before the Special NDPS Court vide video-conferencing this afternoon after her 14-days judicial custody ended on Tuesday.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) is expected to seek a day's custody for Showik Chakraborty later in the day.
The Chakraborty siblings, along with several others, were arrested in connection with the drug case investigations as part of the probe into the death of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
(IANS)
Opposing their bail pleas, the NCB said that as per the directions of the Supreme Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation would take over the Sushant probe, if any new cases are registered on the late actor's death and the surrounding circumstances of his unnatural death, but it (the directions) did not pertain to the present (drugs) cases registered under the NDPS Act, 1985.
The NCB reiterated its earlier stance that Rhea was "an active member of the drug syndicate connected with high society personalities and drug suppliers", besides her involvement in procuring and financing the drugs, which was revealed in her statement recorded by the NCB.
"The present applicant (Rhea) is prominent member of supply chain of drugs and majorly she is handling finance also and used to manage, finance for drug procurement along with Sushant Singh Rajput," the NCB said in its affidavit opposing Rhea's bail application.
Rhea and Showik are among 20 who have been arrested by the NCB in the past few weeks in the probe surrounding the drugs angle linked with Sushant's death case. Both siblings are currently in judicial custody till October 6.
In her bail plea filed through lawyer Satish Maneshinde, Rhea has argued that that the NCB had no jurisdiction to probe this case since the matter was transferred to the CBI as per the SC verdict.
Entering the probe after a request by Enforcement Directorate (ED), the NCB had arrested Rhea, 28, on September 9 on charges of procuring and financing the drugs for Sushant on his instructions, and the probe trail has led to a total of 20 arrests so far.
(IANS)
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The siblings were presented before the Special NDPS Court as their judicial custody of 14 days ended.
They had applied for bail in the Bombay High Court, on which the final arguments were heard by Justice S.V. Kotwal on September 29, who has reserved the final order on it.
Rhea was arrested on September 9 by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) which is probing the drugs angle in the death of Bollywood actor Sushant, who was Rhea's live-in partner.
Besides her, 19 others including her brother Showik Chakraborty, drug peddlers, suppliers and persons linked with the film industry have also been arrested so far, and several top actresses have been questioned.
Sushant was found dead on June 14 in his Bandra flat.
(IANS)
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Showik, 24, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drugs related case on September 4, as part of the investigations into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14.
He had applied for bail in November which was rejected by the Special Court. And in his second appeal, he had cited a recent Supreme Court verdict which said that statements to the NCB officers are not admissible as evidence.
(IANS)