The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) uncovered a drug angle in the Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case and linked to the case, the late actor’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik Chakraborty, and others were arrested. The NCB has been actively investigating the drugs angle and recently an entire Bollywood drug nexus has been revealed. Rhea who was arrested by the agency on 8th September, is currently lodged in Byculla women’s jail in Mumbai. Rhea and her brother Showik requested bail from the Bombay High Court, and Rhea’s legal advisor, Satish Maneshinde told the Bombay High Court that the drug probe should be transferred to CBI, and that NCB has no jurisdiction.
As per the reports of Times of India, Rhea and Showik sought bail from the Bombay High Court, saying that the ‘investigation is illegal for want of jurisdiction.’ According to reports, Rhea and Showik have been charged by the NCB under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Now, their lawyer Satish Maneshinde has stated that ‘financing illicit traffic and harbouring’ under section 27A of the NDPS Act must be read to relate to commercial, and not small quantities of drugs.
According to TOI, Rhea’s counsel further mentioned, “Based on the Supreme Court judgement transferring the (death) case to CBI, all future cases should also go to the CBI.” He then added that under a 1988 journal CBI is empowered to investigate drug cases under the NDPS Act and which is why, the investigation carried out so far is illegal.
At the moment, the Bombay High Court has adjourned the hearing for 29th September and until then, Rhea Chakraborty is expected to be in judicial custody.
