Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) denied Monday of ill-treating arrested drugs case accused Kshitij Ravi Prasad in its custody. Prasad is a former ‘Dharmatic Entertainment’ executive producer. The drug law enforcement agency termed the allegations in this regard as ‘mischievous and completely untrue’.
In a press release, the NCB said it has come across a news item, purportedly quoting Satish Maneshinde, the advocate for Prasad. The news item talks about the accused being ‘ill-treated’ in NCB’s custody.
Prasad was arrested by the NCB Saturday after questioning in drugs case linked to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. A city court Sunday remanded Prasad in the NCB’s custody till October 3. Incidentally Dharmatic Entertainment is a sister concern of filmmaker Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.
The news item alleged humiliation and mistreatment of Prasad at the hands of NCB officers. “It is very unambiguously stated here that the news item in circulation is mischievous and completely untrue. The NCB arrested Prasad as some incriminating evidences were recovered from him,” the NCB said.
“When the involvement of Prasad in offences under the NDPS Act was revealed, he was placed under arrest after following due process of law. His lawyer and his family (mother) were informed as per procedure,” the release said.
Prasad was also allowed to meet his wife and father-in-law at the NCB office in south Mumbai, the central agency said.
“Prasad was not cooperating with the investigation. This fact was brought to the notice of the court with a request to grant NCB custody Sunday when he was produced for remand after a medical check-up. He was sent to the NCB custody till October 3,” the release said.
The court has observed in its order Sunday that no physical ill-treatment has been given to the accused, it said and quoted from the judge’s observation.
“From the submission of the accused, it reveals that, no physical ill-treatment (was) given to him during the course of his custody with the NCB authority. Furthermore, he has no complaint about the physical ill-treatment,” the NCB release said.
“The NCB reiterates that the allegations circulating in the news item are baseless and devoid of any truth,” the release said.