Arjun Rampal was questioned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for over six hours on Friday in connection with the anti-drugs probe that began with inquiries into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June. As he was leaving the agency’s office in south Mumbai, Mr Rampal, 47, clarified that the substances found during a NCB raid on his residence this week were part of a prescription.
“I am fully cooperating with the investigation. I have nothing to do with drugs. The medicine found at my residence was prescribed. The prescription has been found and handed over,” he said.
Mr Rampal also praised the drug agency officers for “doing a good job” and said: “I support them in the investigation.” He also said, “Sameer Wankhede (one of the investigating officers) is doing a good job.”
In a passing comment to a reporter he said: “You also take the medicine, it will help you.”
The actor’s home had been searched on Monday – after which the summons had been issued – and his girlfriend, Gabriella Demetriades, was questioned for nearly six hours each on Wednesday and Thursday. Her brother, Agisialos Demetriades, has been arrested twice over alleged drugs links.
The NCB has also arrested Paul Bartel, an Australian architect whose name emerged after the questioning of Agisialos Demetriades, a South African national who is currently in the agency’s custody.
Also on Monday, film producer Firoz Nadiadwala was summoned by the NCB. A day earlier his wife, Shabana Saeed, was arrested after investigators allegedly found 10 grams of marijuana at their home in Mumbai’s Juhu during a raid.
The Nadiadwala residence had been searched following the arrest of drug peddler Wahid Abdul Kadir Shaikh in Andheri a few days earlier. As the agency tracked Shaikh’s clients, links to Ms Saeed, who allegedly purchased 10 grams of the contraband from him, emerged, the NCB said.
