The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Telangana's Excise Department probing the Hyderabad drug racket on Thursday grilled actress Mumaith Khan on Thursday.
A four-member team of officials including three women began questioning the actress at Abkari Bhavan, the office of Prohibition and Excise Department, around 10 a.m. and it was completed by 5 p.m.
Actor Ravi Teja will appear before SIT on Friday.
Mumaith, who looked cool and calm at the time of reaching and leaving the SIT office, was quizzed on whether she takes drugs and whether she has any links with Calvin Mascrenhas, the alleged kingpin of the racket.
She reached Hyderabad from Mumbai after she got permission to leave "Big Boss" for one day. According to the rules of the television reality show, no participant is allowed to leave the house till he or she is eliminated from the contest.
Known for her item numbers, she is the eighth Tollywood celebrity to be questioned by SIT. She is considered close to director Puri Jagannadh, who was already quizzed in the case.
Mumaith reportedly volunteered to give samples of body fluid, hair and nails but SIT officials said the same was not required.
The investigating officers had on Wednesday grilled actress Charmme Kaur for over six hours. SIT said she refused to give her consent for drawing the samples of body fluid, hair and nails and thus the same were not collected.
The two actresses are among 12 personalities from Tollywood summoned by the SIT for questioning in the drug racket which was busted here in July.
The SIT has so far questioned eight celebrities including Mumaith, Charmme, actors Tarun and Navdeep and director Puri Jagannadh.
They were summoned after the SIT found their contact details in the call data of Mascrenhas.
The SIT has arrested 20 accused in the racket, which created a sensation following startling revelation that the peddlers sold drugs to students of several colleges and schools in Hyderabad, Tollywood celebrities and techies.
The case took a new turn on Wednesday as SIT arrested a Dutch national in the case.
Mike Kamminga's arrest was being considered a major breakthrough as he was reportedly supplying the drugs to peddlers from Europe.
SIT said it searches/raids were continuing in different places in the city. It questioned two others persons, identified as Saad Nazir and Mubeen, in the case.
SIT also denied reports in a section of media about alleged misbehaviour of a constable with Charmme when she arrived at SIT office for questioning on Wednesday. It clarified that Charmme did not lodge any complaint against any Prohibition and Excise personnel.
--IANS
ms/vd
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
