The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) opposed bail pleas of Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and three others in a drug case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death on Tuesday. Opposing the bail pleas, NCB stated that the offences were non-bailable as the crime involved was “worse than murder or culpable homicide”.
Appearing for the NCB, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh said, “The legislative intent has to be taken into account. SC has observed that the offences are worse than murder or culpable homicide. Murder or culpable homicide affect a family. These offences (drugs offences) affect the entire society. Youngsters are getting affected.”
Meanwhile Rhea and Showik Chakrobarthy’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde said that Sushant Singh Rajput was the only consumer of drugs and that he used to consume before the entry of Rhea in his life. “Had Sushant Singh Rajput been alive today, he would have been punished under Section 20,” Maneshinde said. “Sushant would have then claimed the immunity of rehabilitation and got away with punishment for small quantities,” he added.
Sameer Wankhede, zonal director (NCB), on Monday submitted two separate affidavits stating that the siblings were “active members of a drug syndicate that was connected with high society personalities and drug suppliers” and there was enough evidence to show that Rhea financed trafficking of drugs.
A single-judge bench of Justice Sarang V. Kotwal was conducting a day-long hearing on Tuesday on whether offences were bailable and if certain provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act were applicable in present cases. Arguments have been presented before the HC and an order in this regard is expected soon.