Bengaluru: Sandalwood actors, musicians and artists of the Kannada Film Industry have come under the scanner of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). The NCB has arrested the racket kingpin and former television actress Anika D and two of her associates M Anoop and R Ravindran while confiscating large haul of drugs.
According to the latest reports, a drug peddler to Sandalwood actors Anika has revealed some names involved in drug peddler connection. The cops have detained Anika and she is being interrogated. NCB Officials have also conducted raids at three places in East Bengaluru and arrested three peddlers.
Anika allegedly got involved in the drug peddling after she had quit her hotel management course. Anika is said to have many friends in the film industry and she is also a classmate of one of the actors, who has acted in films in three languages of South India.
With her glamour industry background, she established contacts with celebrities and started supplying drugs to them.
According to information, she is also in contact with several actors and musicians. She allegedly supplied MDMA pills during rave and special parties in the farmhouses and residences of the actor.
READ: At least 15 in Kannada film industry into drug trade, claims filmmaker
The agency has seized 145 ecstasy or MDMA pills and over Rs 2.2 lakh cash from Royal Suits Hotel Apartment, Kalyan Nagar on August 21.
Earlier noted filmmaker and journalist Indrajit Lankesh claimed that at least people in the Kannada Film Industry are involved in the drug nexus.
Meanwhile, noted Kannada film star Sudeep told reporters he was not aware of the industry being in the grip of drug menace and appealed against its portrayal in a negative light based on isolated incidents.
The actor, who delivered several hits, said he hardly stepped out of his house once film shooting was over. "I don't have a large circle of friends, so I don't know anything about it," Sudeep, popularly known as Kichcha Sudeep, said after his visit to the Siddaganga Math in Tumakuru.
The 46-year-old actor appealed to the people not to portray the entire film industry in a negative light based on some isolated incidents as it was a vast field, which has been nurtured by legendary people.
Meanwhile, film actor and BJP leader Thara Anuradha submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa highlighting the drug menace taking students and the youth of the state into its grip. She claimed that stringent laws such as capital punishment alone can check the problem.
With agency inputs
