Nashik (Maharashtra): After the death of Sushant Singh Rajput as Narcotics Control Bureau is widening its investigation into the drug racket rampant in Bollywood industry, shocking revelations are coming to the fore.
Not only Bollywood, drug use is also high in big cities. Videos of many movie stars taking drugs have often gone viral. Some actors have even publicly admitted to being addicted to drugs. Similarly, a large number of young people have become addicted to these drugs.
In an exclusive interview with ETV India, Suhas Gokhale, a retired officer in the Narcotics Department, said that strict laws need to be enacted to curb the drug trade.
A survey conducted by Yusuf Merchant, who works at the Narcotics Rehab Center in Mumbai, has revealed that about half lakh people in Mumbai alone are addicted to various drugs like heroin, cannabis, MD and hashish.
Even if each of them is consuming 1 gram of drug per day, this figure goes up to 500 kg. Therefore, crores of rupees are being generated daily from the sale of these drugs, said Suhas Gokhale. Many people use drugs to relieve stress. It has come to light that many actors in the film industry use drugs to work tirelessly and relieve mental stress.
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The craze for marijuana among the rich
Since marijuana was cheap and readily available in the early days, it was addictive to the poor. However, now the craze has increased amongst rich drug addicts. The same cannabis is now known as grass, weed and Marinol and is widely used in colleges, pubs and rave parties.
Cannabis sales and consumption are officially recognized in some European countries. In India, too, there has been a demand for official recognition of cannabis sales for a few years. However, if the future of the youth is to be saved, it should be opposed, said Suhas Gokhale.
Cocaine was smuggled internationally
Globally, Cocaine drugs are produced in large quantities in South America, Peru, Colombia, which enters India via Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. An addict has to pay thousands of rupees for a few grams of cocaine drugs. Therefore, it is in great demand among the affluent class.
The video of drug use is not concrete evidence
The video of famous Bollywood actors taking drugs went viral. It appeared that they had consumed drugs. But it was difficult to take action on the evidence of video alone. No other information is available. There are also technical difficulties. Therefore, it is not possible to reach to the root of such cases, said Suhas Gokhale.
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Changes in the Narcotics Act of 1985
In the 1980s, gangs of international drug smugglers were formed in India as well as in other countries. Even in Mumbai, drug smugglers was a promising business. Then in 1985, the Narcotics Act came into force. It provided for severe punishment. A person who sells and consumes drugs was sentenced to 10 to 20 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh. Even if a person got 1 or 2 grams of drugs, he was being severely punished. So many called the law unjust.
