Bengaluru: Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi is likely to appear on Monday in front of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials with regards to the ongoing probe in the Sandalwood drug scandal. The CCB had issued a notice to the actress to which she replied she won't be able to appear on Thursday. The actress did not show up at 10 am today and took to social media to explain her reasons.
Actress Ragini’s friend Ravishankar was detained in the case of usage of drugs. Now Rahul, a friend of another multilingual actress Sanjana is being detained by the police.
Ravishankar, a clerk at RTO, is considered to be Rajni's close associate. After coming in contact with the Sandalwood actress, both were often spotted together in high-end parties. There are allegations against Ravishankar of supplying drugs to actors and artists.
Central Crime Branch (CCB) had sent a notice to Kannada actress Ragini Dwivedi to appear before it for investigation in connection with a drug case. She was asked by the authorities to appear at the CCB headquarters in Chamarajpet for questioning on Thursday.
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Ragini reportedly approached the advocates on Wednesday midnight to prepare for CCB grilling. According to the sources, Rajni owns two houses in Bengaluru. She is presently at her judicial layout house and is likely to follow the advice of her associates.
As per CCB Additional Commissioner Sandeep Patil, the actress would be questioned along with her aide. Notably, CCB came into action after film director Indrajith Lankesh indicated some of the actors of Kannada film industry were allegedly consuming drugs.
The actress was summoned for questioning as a part of the ongoing police investigation into the use of drugs by celebrities. Ragini and her aide had attended some parties in the past and are suspected to have used drugs.
Meanwhile, Rahul, a friend of another multilingual actress Sanjana is being detained by the police. A video purportedly showing another Sandalwood actress Sanjana and her close aide Rahul dancing has gone viral.
The investigation is continuing as Rahul was taken into custody by the CCB at around 3pm. At present, Ravishankar and Rahul are being questioned by the CCB officials. After actress Rajni has come under the scanner of CCB, it has sent ripples across the Kannada film industry.
READ: Bengaluru: NCB nabs drug kingpin, Sandalwood actors involved
The police are detaining the friends of actresses over supplying drugs to the celebrity parties. The CCB police will issue a notice to the actresses after detaining their close friends. According to hearsay, CCB officials are also probing the involvement of other actors in the drug nexus. There has been speculation and CCB has not issued any official statement
The CCB has escalated the probe into the alleged drug nexus and involvement of Sandalwood actors. The officials have started conducting surprise checks of vehicles, including KSRTC buses and other public and private transports, to prevent drugs being brought into the city from other places.
The development comes after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested drug cartel kingpin Anikha and two of her associates M Anoop and R Ravindran. NCB also confiscated a large haul of drugs. Actors, musicians and artists of the Kannada film industry have also come under the scanner of the NCB. Anika has revealed some names involved in drug peddling.
With agency inputs
