Drug probe: Sushant’s former manager sent to Narcotics Bureau custody

The Narcotics Control Bureau on Tuesday arrested Rishikesh Pawar, former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, in connection to a drugs case. NCB conducted a search for Rishikesh Pawar who had been absconding post multiple summons. He was arrested the early morning after the bail plea from NDPS court was rejected. Pawar is said to be a close friend of Sushant Singh Rajput and also an AD on Sushant’s dream project. NCB today produced Rishikesh Pawar in court and the court granted two days NCB custody. Several people including Sushant’s house help Dipesh Sawant, and actress Rhea Chakraborty have named Pawar in their statements.

NCB officials had since January 8 launched a manhunt to nab Rishikesh Pawar, who was questioned by NCB in September last year when several people associated with the actor were questioned. Pawar’s role in supplying drugs to late Sushant Singh Rajput came to light.

Pawar allegedly procured drugs and supplied it to Sushant Singh Rajput for monetary benefit. One of Sushant’s staff members, Dipesh Sawant, named Pawar as one of the persons supplying drugs to the actor. Sawant had told NCB officials that Pawar had supplied drugs to Sushant in the month of May while the actor died by suicide in June.

Sawant was arrested by NCB for delivering drugs to Sushant on the instructions of actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik who were also arrested by the NCB.

Rishikesh Pawar had been summoned by the NCB in the first week of January, but skipped it. At that time it was reported that he had left the city. The tip-off on his alleged involvement in the case had come from the staff of Sushant Singh Rajput named Dipesh Sawant, who too had been arrested, before being released on bail.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his residence in Mumbai on June 14. The case made headlines over the loopholes that were raised by many celebrities and netizens over the initial investigation by Mumbai Police.

This led to an online movement seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation investigation into his untimely demise. Sushant’s family then got a First Information Report registered against Rhea Chakraborty and others with Patna Police alleging abetment to suicide, giving an overdose of medicines, embezzlement and more.

The Supreme Court ordered the CBI to investigate the case on August 19, on the recommendation of the Bihar government, which alleged non-co-operation over their police force’s attempts to investigate the case in Mumbai.