The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has suspended two officers who allegedly helped two accused in the ongoing drugs probe in securing bail. The two officials are Investigation Officers (IO) in the cases registered against comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Harsh Limbachiya and that of the manager of actress Deepika Padukone, Karishma Prakash.
According to media reports, while one was an NCB officer, the investigating agency has also suspended Special Public Prosecutor Atul Sarpande. His role is under the scanner as he was not present when the bail application hearing was underway at the Qilla court. The decision was taken on Wednesday with the officers has been accused of allegedly aiding their bail plea.
NCB had conducted searches at the residence of Karishma Prakash on October 27 following information from an arrested drug peddler. Though Prakash wasn’t present at the residence when the search happened, it was conducted by NCB officials in the presence of Prakash’s neighbours and 1.7 grams of hashish was recovered.
NCB officials questioned Bharti and Harsh at the office after which they confessed to drug consumption. Both were placed under arrest and sent to judicial custody on October 22. Bharti and Harsh moved court seeking bail and the hearing was scheduled on October 23. The IO in the case and the prosecutor failed to appear during the hearing following which ex-parte bail was granted to Bharti and Harsh the same day.
The NCB statement over the raids read: “NCB raided production office & house of comedian Bharti Singh & from both the places 86.5 gms of Ganja was recovered. Both Bharti & her husband Harsh Limbachiya accepted consumption of Ganja. Ms Bharti Singh were placed under arrested as per the provisions of NDPS Act 1986 and examination of Shri Harsh Limbachiya is underway.”
In both the cases, the Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede from NCB found the role of the two IOs suspicious, which eventually helped the accused in securing bail.
