Investigation into drug bust case in which celebrities were summoned reaches nowhere

(From left to right) Siddhant Kapoor, son of actor Shakti Kapoor, and Orry. (Source: Instagram)

The drug bust case in which Mumbai Police summoned celebrities like Siddhant Kapoor, son of actor Shakti Kapoor, and Orry to record their statements has not seen much headway ever since their statements were recorded in November last year. The police had mentioned in their remand report that apart from the duo whose statements were recorded, the names of other celebrities including actors and politicians too had cropped up but they have not been summoned so far. The police have said that the duo who recorded their statement were not forthcoming and a decision has not been taken on whether they be named as witnesses or accused.

Mohammad Sohail Shaikh alias ‘Lavish’, an accused in a narcotics case who had been deported last year, had mentioned the names of the celebrities alleging they had attended “drug parties” following which two of them had been summoned. So far, no chargesheet has been filed in the case.

An officer said that while they have recorded the detailed statement of the celebrities, the duo was found to be evasive. “We have some technical data and based on further investigation a decision will be taken on whether the duo is to be named as witnesses or accused.

Even the decision on whether others named by Lavish should be summoned or not will be taken based on what is revealed in the probe by senior officials,” an officer said.

Sources said that as police will be busy acting against criminals and seizing weapons to ensure law and order in the city is maintained ahead of the BMC elections due on January 15, any further movement in the case will only take place once the civic elections take place.

“There are several cases against Lavish and as and when investigation is completed in these cases, chargesheets will be filed by the concerned unit,” the officer added.

In November, Siddhant Kapoor and Orry had appeared before the Mumbai Police to record their statements in connection with the drug bust case. Their names had been given by Lavish who was recently deported from Dubai in a Rs 252 crore Sangli factory bust case.

It is, however, an offshoot case related to the Sangli factory bust, which was registered by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Mumbai Police in 2022 that was simmering since the past two years sprung to light with the deportation of Lavish and became a headache for some celebrities linked to Bollywood and politics.