‘Love Jihad’ twist to Sandalwood Drugs Scandal

‘Love Jihad’ twist to Sandalwood Drugs Scandal 

Syed Ali Mujtaba 

The Sandalwood drug scandal in Karnataka has led to arrest of several film stars that has now sparked a new controversy and that’s ‘Love Jihad.’ Sandalwood refers to the Kannada language film industry in Karnataka.

The Sandalwood drug scandal story became juicy after the arrest actress  Sanjjanaa Galrani by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) on September 8.

A twitter handler @ShobhaBJP whose actual name is Shobha Karandlaje has raised the issue of the evil link between Love-Jihad-and Drugs. She pointed out that ‘Love-Jihad’ cases being reported across the country has links with drugs mafia. This BJP sympathizer wanted this angle to be also probed and the motive to stir social harmony to be stopped. 

It is true that Sanjjanaa Galrani had converted to Islam in October 2018 and changed her name to Mahira. In the affidavit, the actress had declared that she converted to Islam on her own will after studying Islam for years. The document also has her photograph along with the date of conversion i.e. 9th October 2018.

Sanjjanaa Galrani who had made her film debut in Tamil Movie Oru Kadhal Seiver (2006), and soon became known for her controversial role in the Kannada film Ganda Hendathi (2006) remake of the Hindi film Murder (2004) is surrounded by rumors of dating Dr. Azeez Pasha, a Bengaluru-based cardiovascular surgeon.  

The speculation became nearer to truth when a picture of Sanjjanaa Galrani with Azeez Pasha surfaced in the social media confirming their relationship. In the picture both could be seen dressed in a traditional outfit, which looks like a wedding attire. 

On being quizzed, both Sanjjanaa and Dr Azeez had shared differing views about their marital status. The actress’ mother’s had her own opinion. Sanjjana who is trained in salsa dancer said; “I am not married, I want to make it clear that I am not,” She said while addressing to the media on the drug case. 

On the other hand, Dr Azeez said, “Yes, the photograph is from a ceremony that is akin to a marriage.” But when Sanjjanaa’s mother was asked, she confirmed that actress got engaged to Pasha and their wedding was postponed due to Covid 19. 

“They were engaged around three and a half years ago. They were set to be married this April, but the pandemic made us postpone it,” Sanjjanaa’s mother said. 

The Sandalwood Drug Case heated up after the arrest of Kanada actress Ragini Dwivedi on September 3, 2020.  The arrest was made linking Kanada film actors with drugs. On September 8, the Central Crime Branch also arrested Sanjjanaa Galrani’s in the same case. 

Sanjjanaa came under scanner after her assistant was held by the CCB officials for alleged role in supplying drugs in film parties. 

Currently, Sanjjanaa and Ragini are lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Jail in Bengaluru. Both have vehemently denied all such allegations.  

Sanjjanaa in a video that went viral is seen refusing to give her blood samples and then arguing with the investigating officer and other senior doctors that she had lost trust in the police and that she had no clue why she was arrested.

The Central Crime Branch officials have named 12 people in the First Information Report (FIR) related to the use of contraband drugs in Sandalwood. 

The CCB also arrested actor Ragini Dwivedi’s, friend and RTO clerk Ravishankar, realtor Rahul Shetty and an event manager, Viren Khanna, and Rahul Thonshe,  a close friend of Sanjjanaa Galrani. 

In the FIR, it has been mentioned that both the actresses Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani supplied illegal narcotic substance during parties that they organized. Apart from this, actor couple; Aindrita Ray and Diganth Manchale were also summoned during the investigation of the Sandalwood drug case.

Sanjjanaa Galrani who is brought up in Bengaluru, is of Sindhi origin. She received her first modeling offer when she was in college. She appeared in over 60 television advertisements, the most notable being a ‘Fastrack’ with John Abraham.

Sanjjanaa Galrani has done over 50 projects including 43 films. Her films  include with Shivanna , Darshan , Pawan Kalyan, Prabhas Raju , Mohanlal, Mamooty besides other stalwarts in South India film industry. Her television projects include ‘Big Boss’ in Kanada.  She has also worked at Colours Channel in Hindi.  

The Sandalwood Drugs scandal has echoes from the arrest of Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty. Rhea was arrested for her alleged role in the drugs angle which had emerged in the investigations into the suicide death of her boyfriend and actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Sushant Rajput was found dead at his apartment in Mumbai on June 14. The initial investigation revealed that prima facie it was a case of suicide but later his death has led to a drug trail in Bollywood, investigation of that is still being going on.   

------------

Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba2007@gmail.com