Sandalwood drug racket: CCB hunts for actor Aditya Alva - absconding since Sept 4

After raiding Kanna actor itya Alva's house in connection to Sandalwood drug racket, Central Crime Branch (CCB) has intensified its search for actor, as per reports. Alva, who is son of ex-JD(S) minister late Jeevaraj Alva and bror-in-law of actor Vivek Oberoi, is one of prime accused in drug case. He has been absconding since September 4, as per sources.

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CCB hunts for itya Alva

Apart from Alva, Shivaprakash Chuppi, and Sheik Faazil - prime accused in case are reportedly absconding. As of date, 12 people have been arrested including actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani. Both actors are in judicial custody. 

On Thursday, three more drug peddlers - Azam Pasha(25) along with two associates - Masthan Vali (25) and Mohammed Abbas (27) were arrested and 90 kg worth marijuana - worth Rs 50 lakh were seized by CCB, as per reports. Prior to se arrests, an African national identified as Benald Udenna, who allegedly supplied drugs to rave parties in Bengaluru was also arrested. Or arrests in connection with drug bust include - Kanna actors Ravishankar, Rahul, Niyaz, and Loum Pepper Samba and three drug peddlers - Mohammed Aop, Anikha D and R Ravindran.

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Political link to drug nexus

political angle to drug racket came to light when CPI(M) state secretary's son - Kanna actor Bineesh Kodiyeri was named by one of arrested accused - a drug peddler - Mohammed Aop. He claimed that Bineesh and ar friend helped him financially in opening 'Hyaat restaurant' in Bengaluru in 2018. Reports state that  Bineesh has close ties with Rijesh Raveendran, one of or accused arrested in case.

Similarly, sources reported that actress Sanjjana Galrani and Congress MLA Zameer Ahmed Khan has allegedly attended an event in Colombo and visited a casi - while he was in JD (S). Khan claimed that when he was in JD(S), HD Revanna and 26 or MLAs h allegedly visited Colombo's casis in 2014. Ex-CM Kumaraswamy too clarified that he h accompanied Khan and MLAs to Colombo where y were allegedly seen at a gambling event with Galrani and Vivek Oberoi.

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What is Sandalwood drug racket?

drug racket prevalent in Kanna film industry - 'Sandalwood' came to light when deceased journalist Gauri Lankesh's bror - Indrajit Lankesh revealed involvement of certain actors in drug menace. He named two actresses who were allegedly t being interrogated due to supposed political connection. Police sources claim that drugs being supplied through ‘dark net’ was detected while raiding places belonging to a few drug peddlers. NCB conducted raids in city and seized drugs like  LSD, MDM, ecstasy, cannabis worth Rs 1.25 crores which were being supplied to local youths.

CCB raids itya Alva's premises in Bengaluru as Sandalwood drug nexus crackdown widens