- The nation is aware of the hype and hyperbole surrounding the death of a Bollywood actor by allegedly committing suicide leading to wild speculations and finger-pointing at many suspects, including the girlfriend of the late actor. What followed subsequently is nothing short of witch-hunting where the television media pronounced guilty even before the agencies entrusted with the responsibilities to unearth the truth about the unfortunate incident. The way the lady in question was cornered from every front is nothing short of an affront to the investigation being carried out.
PC: face Malawi
- The moment investigation agencies started, especially the Narcotics Control Bureau, exploring the drug angle invoking the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 it was amply clear where the inquiry was heading. The NCB had charged the lady under the provisions of Section 27A of the NDPS Act for financing illicit traffic and harboring offenders, extremely serious charge, claiming her to be a part of a drug syndicate. Remember, there was no drug recovered from her during extensive searches carried out before the arrest and the charge was bound to fail.
- Speculation was rife that the drug angle investigation was heading nowhere in the absence of substantial strengthening vis-à-vis substance recovery giving further credence to the increasing voices questioning the rationale about the whole issue under probe. Denied bail from the Special Court, the lady had approached the Bombay High Court seeking relief. In a major respite, the Bombay High Court has not only granted bail but also has flagged the NCB for failing to show drug purchases of commercial quantity in the absence of substance recovery from the lady.
PC: Pramod Sharma
- In a ludicrous claim where the NCB’s juvenile attempts at moral policing Bollywood by putting forth arguments that celebrities and role models should be treated harshly to set an example for youngsters to create deterrence was also ridiculed by the Court. As if numerous attempts underway at different parts of the country where moral policing in one or the other form keeps churning out regularly is not sufficient for one’s liking, the NCB donning moral garb to set right the Bollywood’s alleged tryst with banned substances tantamount to unsolicited and unwanted supercilious effort deserving nothing but condemnation.
- In a stinging remark, the Court reminded the agency that everyone is equal before the law of the land and there was no special privilege or special liability for any role model. It is an unambiguous rebuttal to the NCB that the case probed by it must stand on merits alone and nothing else matters, especially those absurd claims. The agency should feel chastised by the Court’s observations and hence, should concentrate its efforts and resources at regaining credibility rather than attempting at projecting frivolous charges that fail to pass the muster at scrutiny.
