After a gap of 10 months, two actors are in the dock again in the case that put the spotlight on drug use in the Kannada film industry. Central Crime Branch (CCB) officials said they had come up with stronger evidence against the accused as the hair follicle test conducted by the central FSL lab in Hyderabad confirmed drug consumption by actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani.
According to officials, as the urine and blood sample tests were not conclusive, the CCB collected hair follicles from the actors and sent them to FSL in Hyderabad in October 2020.
For the first time in a drug case investigation, hair samples were sent for tests as drug traces can be found in hair for up to one year, officials said.
With the new set of evidence, the CCB may summon the duo again. At present, the two actors are out on bail.
“This is the first time a hair follicle test was used and I am proud of the CCB team for their relentless effort and impartial investigations in gathering scientific evidence in drug related cases,” Kamal Pant, City police commissioner said.
At first, the lab rejected the hair samples, and the samples were then resent. Generally, blood and urine samples are sent as drugs can be detected within 24 to 48 hours, but many times, the results are inconclusive because of the delay in collecting samples and finding the accused. However, in hair samples, drug traces can be found in the follicle for up to one year, Sandeep Patil, Joint Commissioner of Police, said.
Inspector Puneeth, the investigating officer of the case, has submitted the reports before the 33rd CCH court. The reports will be added to the chargesheet against the actors and others.
The CCB had arrested Ms. Galrani and Ms. Dwivedi in September 2020. While Ms. Galrani was granted bail in December 2020, Ms. Dwivedi obtained bail in January 2021 from the Supreme Court.
The CCB had arrested 12 persons, including socialite Viren Khanna, who was allegedly organising drug parties. The other arrested include Aditya Alva, son of former minister Jeevaraj Alva and relative of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, RTO officer Ravishankar, and Rahul Tonse and Lume Pepper, who were allegedly supplying drugs to the parties.
