This is an archive article published on July 13, 2022
Accused abetted Sushant Singh Rajput to ‘extreme drug addiction’: NCB draft charge
Sushant Singh Rajput suicide: The NCB has submitted its draft proposing to charge the 35 accused under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in its draft charge against 35 accused booked in the alleged drugs case filed following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajputin 2020 has said that the accused had entered a criminal conspiracy with each other for distribution of drugs “in high society and Bollywood”.
The draft also states that delivery of drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput had been taking place since 2018. It adds that in 2020, drugs were procured for Rajput’s consumption by the accused, including the late actor’s flatmate Siddharth Pithani, claiming that he “aided and abetted” the actor to “extreme drug addiction.”
The NCB has submitted its draft proposing to charge the 35 accused under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Some of the accused include Rajput’s then girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and the late actor’s two staffers who have been charged with allegedly buying drugs for Rajput. The NCB claims that since 2018, Rajput had been receiving regular delivery of drugs through various persons including his staffers. In 2020, the NCB claimed that drugs were supplied to Rajput at the instance of the actor or Chakraborty with the latter receiving a few deliveries for ganja and handing it over to him. The NCB claims that Pithani procured drugs for Rajput through the actor’s bank account, calling it “puja samagri”.
The NCB also claimed that Agisilaos Demetriades, the brother of actor Arjun Rampal’s partner, had procured cocaine from a Nigerian national and cannabis and ganja from two co-accused several times “and circulated it in high society and Bollywood”. The draft charge does not mention who the drugs were circulated to. It claims that the accused indulged in the offences for sale of drugs for monetary gain.
The NCB has charged the accused on charges including Section 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(A), 22, 27, 27A, 28, 29 and 30 of the NDPS Act. These pertain to production, manufacture, sale, purchase, transport, consumption of any narcotic drug, use and possession of cannabis and psychotropic substances, financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders as well as abetment and criminal conspiracy, attempt and preparation of committing an offence.
The court will peruse the evidence and hear the NCB as well as the accused before deciding the charges they can be tried for.
Sadaf Modak is a distinguished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai whose work demonstrates exceptional Expertise and Authority in covering the intricacies of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a highly Trustworthy source for in-depth coverage of courtroom proceedings and human rights issues.
Expertise
Specialized Role: As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Sadaf Modak possesses deep, specialized knowledge of legal procedures, statutes, and judicial operations, lending immense Authority to her reports.
Core Authority & Focus: Her work primarily centers on:
Trial Court Proceedings: She mainly covers the trial courts of Mumbai, providing crucial, on-the-ground reporting on the day-to-day legal processes that affect citizens. She maintains a keen eye on both major criminal cases and the "ordinary and not so ordinary events" that reveal the human element within the justice system.
Correctional and Social Justice Issues: Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom to critical areas of social justice, including writing extensively on:
Prisons and Incarceration: Covering the conditions, administration, and legal issues faced by inmates.
Juvenile Justice: Reporting on the complexities of the juvenile justice system and the legal rights of children.
Human Rights: Focusing on fundamental human rights within the context of law enforcement and state institutions.
Experience
Institutional Affiliation: Reporting for The Indian Express—a leading national newspaper—ensures her coverage is subject to high editorial standards of accuracy, impartiality, and legal rigor.
Impactful Detail: Her focus on trial courts provides readers with direct, detailed insights into the workings of the justice system, making complex legal narratives accessible and establishing her as a reliable and trusted chronicler of the legal landscape.
Sadaf Modak's blend of judicial focus and commitment to human rights issues establishes her as a vital and authoritative voice in Indian legal journalism.
She tweets @sadafmodak ... Read More
3 min read
