Bollywood drugs nexus probe: 2 NCB officials suspended

In a big embarrassment the Narcotics Control Bureau NCB has suspended two officials of its Mumbai Zonal Unit for their alleged suspicious role which enabled two persons in the ongoing Bollywooddrugs mafia investigation get relief official sources said here on ThursdayThe role of the two investigating officials whose identities were not disclosed came under a cloud after accused Harsh Limbachiya and suspect Karishma Prakash got bail and interim bail respectively in November an official requesting anonymity told IANSLimbachiya is the husband of highprofile television comedian Bharti Singh while Karishma Prakash is the manager of leading Bollywood actress Deepika PadukoneSome other officials are likely to be under the NCB scanner for their questionable lapses in the matter that has shaken up the organisation which is probing the highprofile cases since the past nearly four monthsBoth Limbachiya and Karishma Prakash had been raided by NCB teams last month and certain quantities of drugs recovered in the actionsWhile Bharti Singh and Limbachiya were arrested and later got bail Karishma Prakash had ignored the NCB summons to join the probe and later secured an interim bail and in both the developments the alleged role of the two IOs is now under the scannerThe NCB move follows the preliminary report of an internal probe ordered by the Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede and the suspensions precede a full departmental enquiry in which the possible involvement of some others including lawyers could also come up indicated the officialIn a serious transgression the two officials along with a lawyer did not appear during scheduled court hearings in the two cases which enabled them get bailFollowing a tipoff from an arrested drug peddler the NCB had raided Karishma Prakash when she was away from her home and later a case was lodged along with summons issued to herWhile she ignored the summons she also applied for an anticipatory bail which she got though the court directed her to appear before the NCB which she complied withThe NCB sought custodial interrogation for her as she was not cooperating in the probe and during the final hearing of her anticipatory bail plea the official and lawyer did not appear in the court after which the court granted her bail pleaBharti Singh and Limbachiya were arrested after raids at their homes and office on November 22 and sent to judicial custody for 13 days eachThey moved a bail plea in the court on November 23 which was granted exparte as the investigating officer and the NCB lawyer against remained absent leaving the NCB teams aghastWhile the reasons in both these instances of absentia is not revealed the NCB higherups smelt something amiss and ordered a preliminary probe after which the two IOs have been suspendedKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever