Click to play videoMumbai: In less than a week, two prominent Indians have been detained by the Dubai Police for alleged drug abuse.
While DJ Aqeel is still under detention, Vice Chairman and MD of Percept Holdings Harendra Singh is also under arrest for the past five days along with two of his associates.
Well known in Mumbai's party circuit, Harendra has been instrumental in making Percept Holdings/Pictures a leading media and entertainment company.
The company recently produced Corporate, a blockbuster that exposed the dark underbelly of business rivalry in India.
According to sources, Harendra was picked up from Le Meredian Airport Hotel in Dubai on June 2.
The Dubai authorities allegedly recovered 15 capsules of ecstasy from him and his associates Vipin and Ajay.
The blood and urine samples of all three men were sent for investigation and tested positive after which they were charged with consumption of the banned drug.
They are now lodged in Dubai's Al-Rushdia Jail
However, film industry veterans and Harendra’s friends claim that he has been framed.
“He is not a man who believes in drugs and if he is being accused of using them, there’s something very fishy,” says film director Ashok Pandit.
Agrees director Madhur Bhandarkar, “He is a very disciplined, responsible person and a very low-profile person in the film industry too. He is never seen in parties and is not a Page-3 type of person.”
Though Bollywood may firmly rally behind the man, it's unlikely any of it will influence Dubai authorities.
And if recent incidents are any yardstick, the industry certainly needs to get its act together in the Gulf Oasis.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.