Director of Excise & Prohibition Enforcement Directorate Akun Sabharwal on Monday asserted that the Supreme Court guidelines and all the principles of the law were being followed in the investigations into the drugs scandal.
Obviously reacting to actress Charmme Kaur's allegations in her petition filed in the High Court regarding the methods being followed in the investigation, Sabharwal refuted the charge that the SIT was not following the guidelines of the Supreme Court in dealing with the scandal.
He asserted that the blood, hair and nail samples were being collected from those interrogated only after receiving their written consents. He also said that lady officers were present during the interrogations.
Sabharwal further said that the interrogations were being videographed and the same would be produced in court after completion of the investigation.
He expressed regret that some persons had moved the High Court on false presumptions. The investigations were being done with the cooperation of the narcotics, intelligence and police authorities, and four teams were conducting the interrogation in conformity with all relevant rules and procedures, he said.
He pointed out that possession, consumption and storing of narcotics substances was a grave crime as per the law. So far, seven cases had been registered in connection with the drug racket, and 19 persons arrested. As many as 27 persons were questioned in this affair, he explained.
Sabharwal reiterated that the names of students identified as using drugs would not be revealed under any circumstances as they are all minors.
Excise Commissioner Chandravadan refuted the allegation that a particular section of people was being targeted in the drug trafficking case. Various sections of people were being questioned in the matter with impartiality and in conformity with the law, he claimed.