The Narcotics Control Bureau on Friday, March 5, filed a chargesheet before a special court in Mumbai in a case related to drugs angle in filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput's death last year, naming 33 accused, including actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik.
The over 11,700-page chargesheet, alleging drugs seizures, collection of various evidence and investigation done so far, was filed before the special court set up under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
The voluminous document has named 33 persons as accused in the case, including Rhea Chakraborty (who was said to be in a relationship with Rajput), her brother Showik, and contains statements of over 200 witnesses.
Of the accused, eight are still in judicial custody, while the rest, including Rhea and Showik, have been granted bail, the NCB said.
Further investigation is continuing in respect of several other known and unknown persons, the NCB said.
During the investigation that started last year, seizures of various narcotics drugs and psychotropic substances, electronic gadgets and Indian as well as foreign currency notes were effected, the NCB claimed.
Technical gadgets and mobile phones were analysed and relevant 'incriminating' evidence regarding the sale, purchase, procurement, consumption and possession of narcotics drugs were extracted, it said.
The drugs seized during the investigation have been sent for chemical examination, the NCB stated.
The case was thoroughly investigated on the basis of seizures effected from the accused persons, 'voluntary disclosure' statements, technical evidence such as connectivity through call details, WhatsApp chats, details of bank accounts/financial transactions and other oral and documentary evidences, the NCB claimed.
During the investigation, substantial quantity of narcotics drugs (charas, ganja, LSD, ecstasy) and psychotropic substances (alprazolam and clonazepam), covered under the provisions of sections 20(b), 22, 23 of the NDPS Act, were seized, the NCB claimed.
Substantial Indian and foreign currencies were also seized during the investigation and action was taken under relevant provisions, the NCB claimed.
'Due to ecological concerns, a large portion of the annexures (which form part of the charge-sheet) have been submitted to the honourable court in electronic form,' the NCB stated.
'On conclusion of further investigations, supplementary charges shall be filed as per law,' the NCB said.
The NCB began probing the alleged use of drugs in some quarters in Bollywood after Rajput's death on June 14 last year.
The NCB commenced its probe on the basis of alleged WhatsApp chats having reference to drugs.
The agency arrested Rhea Chakraborty, Showik, some staff members of Rajput and a few others under various sections of the NDPS Act.
