Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty arrested by narcotics agency

Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by India’s federal narcotics agency on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the organisation said.

Chakraborty is being investigated by federal agencies in connection with death of her former boyfriend, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput and has been accused of allegedly buying drugs for him. She is yet to comment but denied any wrongdoing in earlier statements.

The NCB has asked the Indian court to detain Chakraborty for further questioning, while describing her as part of an “active drug syndicate”. A magistrate rejected her bail plea and remanded her to judicial custody until September 22.

Rajput’s death and the circumstances around it have been at the centre of frenzied media coverage in India in recent weeks, eclipsing stories around the country’s growing coronavirus infections, a plane crash that killed 18 people and a sharply contracting economy.

In a message to media after news of Chakraborty’s arrest broke, her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said it was “a travesty of justice”.

Chakraborty is under investigation after Rajput’s family accused her of being responsible for his death. She has been accused of abetting suicide, criminal conspiracy and theft in a report filed by India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last month.

Television channels showed Chakraborty waving to the media before getting into a police car and exiting the NCB office in Mumbai. Her brother Showik was arrested by the agency last week.

Rajput, who won acclaim for his role in the 2016 biopic of then Indian cricket captain Mahindra Singh Dhoni, was found dead at his home on June 14 and an investigation is ongoing.

Rajput’s death sent shockwaves through Bollywood and Indian sport, with tributes and condolences pouring in on social media.

“This is just so shocking. A wonderful talent. RIPSushant,” actor Abhishek Bachchan said on Twitter.

Rajput started his acting career with television soap operas and made his Bollywood debut in 2013. He had acted in 10 films and his eleventh, an official remake of the Hollywood hit “The Fault in Our Stars” called ‘Dil Bechara’, was released recently.

(Reuters)