Sandalwood Drug Peddling Case Takes New Turn

Bengaluru: The drug peddling case rocking Karnataka took another turn with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) suspecting a huge money laundering racket and has sought details from Bengaluru police about the arrested persons even as the custody of Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjannaa Galrani was extended by three days.

The ED’s suspicion comes as reports emerged that the high-end party organisers and those attending the parties were procuring drugs from foreign nationals, especially those from African countries. The ED is now looking into the mode of payments made to drug suppliers and how these nationals transferred money back home.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai confirmed Friday that the ED is investigating the financial aspects of the drug peddling and substance abuse case. Money laundering angle, if any, will also be looked into, he added.

“Central Crime Branch (CCB) investigation will continue in Bengaluru. I have instructed officials to take information coming from all sources regarding the case seriously. Information from media reports should also be considered and investigated,” Bommai told the media.

On Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan‘s name allegedly being linked to the case, Bommai said officials have been asked to investigate information coming from all sources.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru’s Central Crime Branch sleuths Friday arrested alleged software engineer-turned drug peddler Pratheek Shetty in connection with the drug case. He has been named as accused number 15 in the FIR registered by the police.

Shetty was held based on the confession procured from Ragini Dwivedi‘s friend Ravi Shankar. He was also one of the three accused persons arrested by the police in 2018 and 1,290 gm of cocaine and 1,930 gm of MDMA pills were seized. Three men including Faith Chucks, a South African national, Kante Hery from Guinea and Pratheek Shetty were arrested then. 

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