Indian celebrities who were embroiled in drug scandals
The Bollywood industry and fans were taken aback when actress Mamta Kulkarni and her husband Vicky Goswami were arrested in Kenya on suspicion of drug trafficking. Or when noted actors and celebrities like Fardeen Khan and Rahul Mahajan were held guilty owing to the same. However, these are not isolated instances of a Bollywood celebrity being dragged into the spotlight over their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
These incidents also brought to our attention a slew of celebrities who were either addicted to or caught acquiring psychotropic substances (drugs). While the news faded after a while, their professional paths appeared to take a downturn in the coming years. Let us take a look.
Sanjay Dutt
Before the 1993 bomb explosion case, Sanjay Dutt had already served several years in prison for drug possession. Bollywood's 'Munnabhai' recently admitted to a nine-year addiction to narcotics before his confession. He had experimented with everything, from coke to morphine to heroin, and gradually developed an addiction to each. He was extradited to the United States and admitted to a rehabilitation facility.
Fardeen Khan
Fardeen Khan, a Bollywood star, was caught acquiring coke (cocaine). His prosecution was brought under Section 27 of the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), which dealt with the 'illegal possession or real use of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance in small dosages for personal use.' First-time offenders caught under Section 27 may be exempt from prosecution under Section 64A of the NDPS Act if they have been de-addicted.
Rahul Mahajan
Rahul Mahajan, the son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member Pramod Mahajan, was convicted of drug abuse in 2006. Rahul was at Pramod Mahajan's Safdarjung residence with his father's assistant, Bibek Moitra, and an acquaintance. Moitra's case was solved when he died due to the lethal cocaine-champagne combo, evidence suggests. However, Moitra was not the only one who encountered drug-related side-effects. Rahul was also placed on a ventilator to aid his recovery. He was then arrested under the NDPS Act for selling, purchasing, and possessing narcotics.
Mamta Kulkarni and Vicky (Vijay) Goswami
In 2017, Thane police seized a staggering 20 tonnes of ephedrine, and according to investigations, former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni was a significant player in a worldwide drug network. She had reportedly sought to import the shipment.
The news came after investigators revealed that Mamta's Kenyan husband, Vicky Goswami, was the kingpin of the narcotics enterprise. The 20 tonnes of ephedrine were seized at a factory in Solapur. According to Thane police, drug lords from India, Poland, and several other European countries sought to convey the consignment via Gujarat from Mumbai to Eastern Europe.
DJ Aqeel
DJ Aqeel, well-known for offering altered versions (remixes) of Bollywood classics, was arrested in Dubai for carrying illegal substances. Although the examinations on him were inconclusive, he was detained for a while.
Vijay Raaz
Popular Bollywood actor Vijay Raaz was arrested in the UAE for allegedly possessing narcotics. However, according to reports, Raaz claimed to be clean and was requested to sign documents provided by Arabic-speaking authorities who offered to assist him. He had previously appeared in a Vikram Bhatt film titled Deewane Huye Paagal.
Apoorva Agnihotri and Shilpa Agnihotri
Shilpa and Apoorva Agnihotri, Bollywood celebs and a couple, were caught during a rave party in March 2013. The pair was arrested on suspicion of narcotics possession at a rural house party. The police complaint was filed against the celebrity couple and numerous acquaintances, including Rocky S, Vishay Handa, the hotel's director, and Deepesh and Rakesh Sharma DJs.
