Comedian Bharti Singh was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau on Saturday for possession and consumption of cannabis.
This was confirmed to The Hindu by Sameer Wankhede, the Indian Revenue Services officer leading the investigation.
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Mr. Wankhede said Ms Bharti’s husband Harsh Limbachiya was still being questioned by the NCB. Their residence and official premises were searched and 86 grams of cannabis was found. Ms. Bharti was arrested under several provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
“Both Ms. Bharti Singh and her husband Harsh Limbachiya admitted to consumption of ganja,” an NCB release said.
The quantity allegedly seized from Ms. Singh’s possession is considered “small quantity” under the Act, as against “commercial quantity”, an NCB official said. Up to 1,000 gm of ganja is considered small quantity, which attracts a jail term of up to six months and/or fine of ₹10,000. Possession of commercial quantity — 20 kg or more — can attract up to 20 years in jail. For the quantity in between, the punishment can be as long as 10 years in jail.
“Ms. Singh’s name had cropped up during the interrogation of a drug peddler,” he added. The agency also carried out searches at two other locations in the metropolis, the official said.
Bharti Singh has appeared in many comedy and reality shows on TV. She has also hosted a few such shows.
The NCB has been probing the alleged drug use in Bollywood after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in June, on the basis of WhatsApp chats involving drugs.
(With inputs from PTI)
