Sushant Singh Rajput case: NCB makes six more arrests; Samuel, Dipesh's bail rejected

Continuing its crackdown on the drugs trade in Mumbai as part of the probe into the narcotics angle in Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput`s death, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has arrested six more drug peddlerson Friday, an official confirmed.

Carrying out raids in posh areas of Mumbai`s Powai and Andheri suburbs, besides Thane, the NCB has also recovered a total quantity of 1.433 kg of drugs like charas and ganja.

Following a statement by drug supplier Ankush Arneja, who was arrested last Sunday, the NCB raided the home of Rahil Rafat Vishra alias Sam, 42, who had supplied charas to Arneja. "We have recovered 928 grams charas and Rs 436,000 cash from Vishra`s home late on Thursday," said a NCB official.

Again based on Arneja`s information of another drug peddler - Rohan Talwar, 29, the NCB raided his home and recovered 10 grams ganja. Talwar`s interrogation led the NCB to Nogthoung Lotha, 30, from whom another 370 grams of ganja was found, said the NCB. Lotha, in turn, revealed the name of his associate Vishal Salve, 25, who was also caught by the NCB and 50 grams ganja seized from him.

The NCB sleuths zeroed in on two other peddlers - Abbas Ali, 42 in Andheri and recovered 15 grams ganja from him, and Jaychetan Raichera, 29, from Thane and seized 60 grams ganja.

Of these six arrested, Vishram is allegedly connected to the probe into the drugs angle of the Sushant case, while Ali was released on bail on Friday, said the NCB.

In the case, the Bombay High Court also adjourned the hearings on bail plea of three persons, who have been arrested in the drugs case related to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, till September 29. The hearings in the bail applications of Rajput`s personal staff, Dipesh Uttam Sawant, and actor Rhea Chakraborty`s associate Samuel Marshal Miranda and alleged drug peddler Abdul Basit Parihar were adjourned by the Bombay HC.

A special court in Mumbai had last week rejected the bail plea of Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Dipesh Sawant, Samuel Miranda, Abdul Basit, and Zaid Vilatra. However, Chakraborty and her brother have not moved a bail plea in the High Court yet. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), which has arrested the accused in the drugs case related to the actor`s death, had opposed their bail pleas in the special court. According to the NCB, Sawant was arrested for his role in procuring and handling of drugs based on the evidence and statements.

The NCB had launched an investigation after it received official communication from Enforcement Directorate (ED), in which there were various chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage, and transportation in connection with Sushant`s death.

The ED had on July 31 registered an Enforcement Case Information Report in the late actor`s death case after a First Information Report was filed by Rajput`s father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar on July 28. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14.