Maharashtra orders probe by Mumbai police into Kangana Ranaut’s ‘drug link’

MUMBAI: Trouble mounted for actor Kangana Ranaut as state home minister Anil Deshmukh said on Tuesday that the Mumbai police would probe allegations that she took drugs. Talking to reporters outside Vidhan Bhavan, Deshmukh said actor Adhyayan Suman, who was in a relationship with Ranaut earlier, had in an interview in 2016 claimed she consumed drugs and even forced him to take it.
In response to Deshmukh’s investigation order, Ranaut later tweeted, “I am more than happy to oblige @MumbaiPolice @AnilDeshmukh-NCP please do my drug tests investigate my call records if you find any links to drug peddlers ever I will accept my mistake and leave Mumbai forever, looking forward to meet you.”
Shiv Sena MLAs Pratap Sarnaik and Sunil Prabhu had raised the issue with Deshmukh. “They have submitted that in an interview in 2016, Suman had alleged that Ranaut consumed drugs and forced him to take the substance too. Mumbai police will look into the matter,” he said.
She’s a traitor, says Congress MLC; has insulted city, says home minister
Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap, who moved a breach of privilege motion in the state council against Ranaut for comparing Mumbai with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, also referred to the same interview. Jagtap said he was willing to provide proof about the interview. “Her comments on Mumbai show she is a traitor to the city and state. It is a betrayal of the martyrs of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement who fought to keep Mumbai in Maharashtra,” he said.
Ranaut had recently said that she feared the Mumbai police more than the ‘movie mafia’, and would prefer security either from Himachal Pradesh or the Centre. She was provided Y-plus security by the Centre on Monday.
Deshmukh said that the irresponsible statements made by Ranaut discredit the city where she got name and fame. “No one can tolerate such insult of the state and the city. She has insulted the same Mumbai police that caught Kasab [26/11 terror attack accused], and had officials like Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar and Vijay Kamte who died on the line of duty. We should all condemn her for such statements,” he said.
Condemning Ranaut’s remarks about the Mumbai police, leader of the opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that he knew the capability of the force since he had served as chief minister for five years. “But, the police can come under political pressure,” he added.
Seeking to dismiss allegations raised by the Shiv Sena-led MVA government that the BJP's demand for a CBI probe had demoralised Mumbai police, Fadnavis said many legislators had passed adverse remarks against the police at different points of time. “Even chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, during a rally in Kalyan, had said the police were capable of only washing utensils,” said Fadnavis.
Meanwhile, Union minister Ramdas Athawale, an ally of the BJP, said workers of his party RPI (A) will provide protection to Ranaut when she returns to Mumbai. “…she is scheduled to reach Mumbai on Wednesday. Our party workers will offer protection to her at the airport as well as at her residence,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)