Arjun Rampal arranged backdated prescription for banned tablets illegally through relative, finds NCB

Arjun Rampal at the NCB office in November. Pic: Suresh KK

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday questioned Bollywood actor Arjun Rampal for close to six hours in connection with a raid conducted at his residence last month, where the agency had found tablets banned under the NDPS Act. Investigations found that the backdated prescription the actor had produced for the tablets was arranged illegally through a relative.

The NCB had recorded the actor's and his partner, Gabriella Demetriades' statement after the raid on November 11. Rampal had then produced the prescription, issued by a Delhi-based psychiatrist named
Dr Rohit Garg.

"The matter is sub judice. I cannot reveal anything. But I have shared all the necessary details with the NCB and recorded my statement before the magistrate. It is my moral responsibility to cooperate with the agency," Garg told reporters in Delhi.

Garg, in his statement, has told the NCB that he was unaware of the probe. He was approached by a relative of Rampal's through a common friend. The relative said that she has anxiety and requested for a backdated prescription.

"During the probe, we have found a contravention of the NDPS Act in his previous statement and the prescription that he has submitted," a senior NCB officer said.

"As far as the prescription is concerned, it is established that he has committed an offence which can be investigated under Section 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS Act," the officer added.

The NCB is also checking if there is forgery involved and is looking for relevant evidence. If evidence is found, the agency can approach Mumbai police or Delhi police to investigate the matter under the Indian Penal Code.