The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of Bengaluru, which is investigating the drug menace in the Kannada film industry, conducted intense searches at actress Ragini Dwivedi’s residence on Friday morning, police said.
“The CCB obtained the search warrant from a court,” a police officer said.
According to police sources, a team of CCB enquiry agents reached Ragini Dwivedi’s residence at about 6 am.
The CCB had issued a notice to the actress on Wednesday, asking her to testify on Thursday, but she sent a team of lawyers asking for time till Monday. The police instructed her to appear before them on Friday. CCB sources mentioned the actress will appear before the sleuths at 10 am.
Meanwhile, the police said they have put Ravi behind bars, having close connections in the Kannada film industry, related to the drugs case and court has directed him to remain in police custody for five days.
The CCB rigidified its investigation into a drugs trail in Bengaluru after the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) arrested three persons from the city, who were allegedly supplying drugs to singers and actors in the Kannada film industry, also known as “Sandalwood”.
Filmmaker and journalist Indrajit Lankesh had given his statement to the CCB about drug abuse in Sandalwood.
He had also claimed that at least 15 people in the industry were indulged in the illegal substances abuse trade.