Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jan 8: Shivaprakash, named as the main accused in the infamous Sandalwood drugs scandal, has succeeded in securing a stay against his arrest through the Supreme Court. On Thursday January 8, he was questioned by the central crime branch police here.

Shivaprakash was lying low since the last five months after the scandal surfaced. His interim bail applications had been rejected by the NDPS cases court here, and the high court. He had thereafter approached the Supreme Court. Advocates for Shivaprakash had filed for protection from his arrest as a few in this case have already been granted bail. On that basis, the Supreme Court had restrained the authorities from arresting him. Armed with this order, Shivaprakash came to the CCB office.

In the drugs case registered by the CCB police on September 4, Shivaprakash was named as the first accused out of 11. Among them, all others except Aditya Alva have been arrested. CCB has been accusing actresses, Sanjana and Ragini along with Shivaprakash and others of indulging in drug trafficking.

Several parties organized in the city and outskirts were attended by industrialists, celebrities, and some actors and actresses including DJs and software employees. A few foreign citizens used to be present there. Drugs were supplied at these parties at exorbitant cost and the accused who got good profit out of drugs sale were leading a luxurious life, the CCB had stated. Shivaprakash also reportedly had invested in a cinema in which Ragini had acted.