Drug trafficker claims he arranged raves for Bollywood stars, politicians
What's the story
Mohammad Salim Mohammad Suhail Shaikh, a drug trafficker recently deported from the UAE, has made shocking claims about supplying drugs at rave parties attended by Bollywood celebrities and politicians. The parties were allegedly organized by Shaikh, who is a close aide of fugitive drug kingpin Salim Dola. The Mumbai Crime Branch's Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) has revealed that these events took place in Mumbai and Dubai.
Alleged attendees
Celebrities and politicians allegedly attended the parties
Shaikh, a resident of Nagpada in South Mumbai, has allegedly named several Bollywood celebrities and politicians as attendees at these parties. These include actors Nora Fatehi, Shraddha Kapoor and her brother Siddharth Kapoor, film producers Abbas-Mustan, rapper Loka, social media influencer Orhan Awatramani alias Orry, and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Zeeshan Siddique. Police are yet to verify these claims made by Shaikh.
Ongoing inquiry
Shaikh's arrest and investigation progress
Shaikh was arrested after being deported from the UAE. He has reportedly confessed to setting up several drug manufacturing units and a supply network. The police believe he can provide vital clues to an international drugs and hawala network linked to key gangsters and traffickers. The investigation into this case began in August 2022 with the arrest of Mohammad Shahrukh Mohammad Shafi Shaikh, who was found with mephedrone (MD) worth ₹1.19 lakh.
Major breakthrough
Police bust drug manufacturing facility in Sangli
The investigation took a major turn when police busted a mephedrone-manufacturing facility on a farm in Sangli district. This facility was controlled by wanted drug trafficker Salim Dola and his son Taher. The raw material for making MD at this facility was provided by Mustaffa Mohammad Khubawala, who was recently deported from the UAE. Shaikh has reportedly confessed to arranging parties where he supplied drugs like cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy) pills, hashish (cannabis), charas, and Mephedrone.
Next steps
Police to question celebrities if required
The police have said that they will question the celebrities named by Shaikh, if required. Joint Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Crime Branch, Lakhmi Gautam said, "Certain revelations have been made to us and we are verifying facts." The Anti-Narcotics Cell is now investigating who else participated in this racket and whether other drug traffickers organized similar parties for the celebrities named by Shaikh in his confession.