In a statement released by filmmaker Karan Johar on his official social media handles, the director-producer has stated that allegations of narcotics being consumed at a party hosted by him on July 28, 2019 at his residence are completely 'false' and 'baseless'.
He also mentioned that he has never consumed narcotics nor promotes or encourages consumption of any such substances. He added that malicious statements against him have unnecessarily subjected his family, colleagues 'to hatred, contempt and ridicule'.
"All these slanderous and malicious statements, news articles and news clippings have unnecessarily subjected me, my family, and my colleagues, and Dharma Productions, to hatred, contempt and ridicule," read a part of his statement.
Karan further clarified in his statement that reports of Dharma Production executive Kshitij Prasad and Anubhav Chopra being his 'aides', 'close aides' are not true. He added that "Mr. Anubhav Chopra is not an employee at Dharma Productions." Karan also stated that "Mr. Kshitij Ravi Prasad joined Dharmatic Entertainment (sister concern of Dharma Productions) in November 2019 as one of the executive producers on contract basis for a project which eventually did not materialise."
Finally, urging the media to exercise restraint, he said that if not, then he will be left with no option but to 'legally protect' his 'rights against this baseless attack' on him.
Here's the full statement:
"Certain news channels, print/ electronic media and social media platform(s) are wrongly and misleadingly reporting that narcotics were consumed at a party that I, Karan Johar hosted on July 28, 2019 at my residence.
I had already clarified my position way back in 2019 that the allegations were false.
In view of the current malicious campaign, I am reiterating that the allegations are completely baseless and false. No narcotics substance was consumed in the party. I WOULD LIKE TO UNEQUIVOCALLY ONCE AGAIN STATE THAT I DO NOT CONSUME NARCOTICS AND I DO NOT PROMOTE OR ENCOURAGE CONSUMPTION OF ANY SUCH SUBSTANCE.
All these slanderous and malicious statements, news articles and news clippings have unnecessarily subjected me, my family, and my colleagues, and Dharma Productions, to hatred, contempt and ridicule.
I would like to further state that several media / news channels have been airing news reports that Kshitij Prasad and Anubhav Chopra are my “aides” / “close aides”. I would like to place on record that I do not know these individuals personally and neither of these two individuals are “aides” or “close aides”. NEITHER I, NOR DHARMA PRODUCTIONS CAN BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES. THESE ALLEGATIONS DO NOT PERTAIN TO DHARMA PRODUCTIONS.
I wish to further state that Mr. Anubhav Chopra is not an employee at Dharma Productions. He was briefly associated with us for only two months in the capacity of 2nd assistant director for a film, between November 2011 and January 2012 and as assistant director for the short film in January 2013. He has thereafter never been associated with Dharma Productions for any other project.
Mr. Kshitij Ravi Prasad joined Dharmatic Entertainment (sister concern of Dharma Productions) in November 2019 as one of the executive producers on contract basis for a project which eventually did not materialise.
However, in the past few days, the media has resorted to distasteful, distorted and false allegations. I hope the members of the media would exercise restraint else I will be left with no option but to legally protect my rights against this baseless attack on me."
Meanwhile, in a recent tweet Siromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has claimed that the Narcotics Control Bureau could soon send summons to director-producer Karan Johar in the drug-related case that the agency is investigating.
Sirsa had filed a complaint with the NCB chief Rakesh Asthana last week over the alleged drug party hosted at Johar`s residence in 2019 where several top actors were in attendance including Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Varun Dhawan, Ranbir Kapoor, Malaika Arora and several others.
Sirsa took to twitter and wrote, "Sources have told me that Karan Johar is soon going to be summoned by the NCB. He will be questioned about the 2019 drug party."
