Kannada actor-couple Diganth, Aindrita quizzed by police in drugs case
Bengaluru: Actor-couple Diganth Manchale and Aindrita Ray were questioned for four hours on Wednesday by the Central Crime Branch in connection with the drug abuse in the Kannada film industry.
The two, who were summoned by the CCB, will be asked to appear again for further inquiry at a later date, Bengaluru Joint Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil told reporters.
"In connection with this case (drug case), we had summoned Diganth and Aindrita Ray.. they had appeared for the inquiry. A detailed inquiry was done and we got lots of information," he said.
Speaking to reporters after being questioned by CCB officials, Diganth said the probe in the case was in progress and he and his wife were cooperating with the investigation.
"We will come (again to appear before CCB) if we are summoned," the actor said.
Diganth had made his debut with the Kannada film 'Miss California' in 2006 and acted in a number of movies.
Aindrita Ray started her career in Kannada film industry with the movie 'Meravanige'.
She is best known for her performance in the movie 'Manasaare,' in which she played the role of a mentally challenged girl.
Meanwhile, an African national identified as Benald Udenna, who allegedly supplied drugs to rave parties in the city, has been arrested.
"He (Udenna) is an important peddler who supplied drugs to these (rave) parties," Patil said.
He has been taken into police custody.
The CCB has registered two cases in connection with a drug racket involving the film industry at the Cottonpet police station.
The CCB has already arrested actresses Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani along with seven others while it is on the lookout for at least seven more.
On Tuesday, the police raided the lavish resort-bungalow of Aditya Alva, son of former Karnataka Minister late Jeevaraj Alva, in connection with the cases.
Alva, who is absconding, allegedly used to host rave parties in his sprawling bungalow spread over four acres overseeing the majestic and scenic Hebbal lake of Bengaluru, police sources said.
The CCB took up the investigation after the Narcotics Control Bureau recently arrested three people, including a woman, with a huge cache of synthetic drugs.
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India dismisses report of Musk joining Modi-Trump call; says it was between 2 leaders only
New Delhi (PTI): India on Saturday rejected a media report that said billionaire Elon Musk joined a phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this week.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Tuesday's conversation was between the two leaders only.
The New York Times, quoting unnamed US officials, reported that Musk participated in the call between Trump and Modi, adding it was an "unusual appearance" by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state.
"We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on March 24 was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only," Jaiswal said.
"As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia," he said.
In its report, the New York Times said it is "unclear" why Musk was on the call or whether he spoke.
Our prime minister only spoke to Trump and there was no one else who spoke to the PM, people familiar with the matter said.
They suggested that it is for Washington to clarify if somebody else was in the room or listening to the conversation.
The New York Times said Musk's participation in the phone call signalled a reconciliation between the billionaire and Trump.
The two had fallen out last year following Musk's exit from a government task force charged with slashing the federal workforce.
The US president had initiated the phone call with Modi to discuss the West Asia crisis.
It was the first conversation between the two leaders since the West Asia conflict began on February 28.
In the conversation, Modi underlined the importance of ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible, noting that it is vital for global peace, stability and economic well-being.
