The Enforcement Directorate, while investigating the case against Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, has found multiple chat groups where narcotic drugs were discussed.
The agency officials have found another lead where a National level snooker and billiards player, Rishabh Thakkar, is under the scanner for dealing in narcotic drugs. Rishabh Thakkar, a resident of Juhu, was summoned by the ED and grilled for eight hours on Tuesday (September 1).
This particular chat is different from the other chats that have surfaced to date. This group on WhatsApp was created for a wedding function trip to Udaipur and Rhea Chakraborty, Rishabh Thakkar and Kunal Jani along with others were a part of the group.
Jani is a Bandra based hotelier who is the director of the hotel along with actress Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra. According to sources, chats found in this group were regarding the purchase of doobies and consumption was being discussed.
Based on these chats, Kunal Jani was summoned and questioned on Monday while Thakkar was grilled on Tuesday. Jani has told the ED officials that he did not indulge in any kind of peddling while he has consumed narcotic drugs occasionally in parties. He also said that he knows Rhea as a friend.
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Thakkar told the ED officials that he knew Rhea personally through common friends but has never supplied any drugs to her. Also, Rhea did not attend the wedding for which the WhatsApp group was created.
The other chats that have surfaced were of Sushant’s house group which included Samuel Miranda, Shruti Modi, Rhea, Showik and other staffers including Sushant himself. Some direct chats between Thakkar and a person where he is asking him to collect the contraband from him and pay a certain amount are also under the scanner.
Similarly, a transaction found by ED officials is also under scanner for which Thakkar could be summoned again. The details will be shared with the Narcotics Control Bureau for a further probe by ED.
Sources said that Thakkar has played opposite some top snooker and billard players in the past. Rishabh Thakkar’s circle of friends is also under the scanner now. He was asked if Rhea bought any contraband from him.
Thakkar, according to sources, told ED officials that he was not dealing in drugs but one transaction and the chat message discussing contraband and its payments remains under the scanner. His financial transactions are also being scanned. He will be called again by the ED for questioning.
Meanwhile, Gaurav Arya was questioned on the second consecutive day by ED officials. Arya submitted all his bank and financial documents to ED officials on Tuesday and maintained that he had never dealt or supplied drugs to Rhea or anyone else. The Enforcement Directorate, in the coming days, could summon some more people who are a part of the chats.
