"It's just a procedural matter. That is what we are following."
Showik Chakraborty, the brother of Rhea Chakraborty, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on September 4, 2020, after they searched the Mumbai home where he lives with his sister.
They seized his laptop during the search.
The NCB is investigating the drugs angle in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. They have now drawn links between Showik and alleged drug dealer Zaid Vilatra, who was arrested on September 2, 2020.
Another team also searched the home of Samuel Miranda, who was Sushant’s house manager. He too was taken in for questioning.
A third suspect, Basit Parihar, was also arrested.
An official had said: “The searches were conducted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.
“It’s just a procedural matter. That is what we are following.”
The drugs investigation came to light after WhatsApp messages from Rhea’s phone revealed a conversation about procuring drugs between her and a person named ‘Miranda Sushi’, believed to be Samuel Miranda.
It was reported that Zaid supplied cannabis to Showik and Samuel. They were introduced to each other by Basit.
The NCB told a Mumbai court that Basit said that he used to procure drugs under the instructions of Showik Chakraborty.
Basit has now been remanded in custody until September 9, 2020.
In a statement, the NCB said: “Parihar, in his statement, revealed that he used to procure drugs from Vilatra and another person Kaizan Ibrahim as per the instructions of Showik Chakraborty.”
The NCB also said that there are other instances where Basit facilitated to arrange for drugs and was in contact with Showik.
The agency added:
“It is clear from the statements of the accused that he was an active member of drug syndicates connected with high society personalities and drug suppliers.”
Rhea Chakraborty previously claimed that she had “never consumed drugs in her life” and alleged she had tried to stop her boyfriend Sushant from consuming marijuana.
Sushant was tragically found dead at his apartment on June 14, 2020.
Rhea Chakraborty, her family and others are being investigated by the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), the Enforcement Directorate and the NCB over Sushant Singh Rajput’s family’s allegations that she mentally harassed the actor and had a role in his death.
Two psychiatrists who treated Sushant Singh Rajput in his last few months separately diagnosed the actor as suffering from severe depression, anxiety, an existential crisis and bipolar disorder, according to statements recorded by the Mumbai Police.
Both revealed that the actor had stopped taking his medicines, which worsened his condition and made it very difficult to treat him.
On September 3, the CBI termed media reports linked to it on its probe into the death of the actor as “speculative and not based on facts”, in the first official statement from the agency.
“CBI spokesperson or any team member has not shared any details of the investigation with media. The details being reported and attributed to CBI are not credible.”
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