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The Bollywood diva from an era gone by was caught in a scandal along with her husband
Long lost Bollywood diva Mamta Kulkarni along with her husband Vicky Goswami have been detained by Kenya police on the grounds of alleged drug trafficking.
Reports suggest that Mamta and her hubby are currently being questioned for their role in drug-trafficking after being detained in Mombasa. The once-upon-a-time bombshell returned to Kenya to live with her husband. It has also been learnt that Vicky has the reputation of being involved in drugs earlier as well.
The arrest that took place on Sunday last week was the result of a top-secret joint operation by the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Mombasa Police department. The FBI has now joined the operation that has so far spanned across three continents
Four people have been arrested in the operation–the most prominent name in the list is of Baktash Akasha, a well-known Kenyan drug mafia and the son of slain drug baron Ibrahim Akasha. The court has listed Mamta Kulkarni’s husband as a ‘key associate of Baktash Akasha’. Baktash’s brother Ibrahim has also been arrested along with Pakistani national Gulam Hussein.
This incident is being hailed as one of the biggest drug cartel busts in Kenya. Though Mamta Kulkarni is being detained and interrogated, the Kenya police and the DEA is yet to formally charge the former Bollywood actress.
The Kenyan government is considering a deportation request from the US authorities for Vicky Goswami but Mamta might be deported to India only if she is formally charged as an ‘accomplice’ of Goswami.
Mombasa County Commander Robert Kitur confirmed the arrest and said that “the suspects have been moved to different police stations for further interrogation”.
“They are the subjects of indictment number 14 CRIM 716, filed on October 28, in which they are charged with conspiracy to import narcotics. The indictment was issued by US Judge Gabriel Gorenstein of the Southern District Court in New York, on October 28. It was delivered to the Kenyan authorities through the US Embassy in Nairobi on November 10. Accordingly the police arrested the four in a joint raid with the DEA,” said an official from Kenya.
According to the official, the indictment says that the four “are wanted to stand trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York”.
Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Alexander Muteti, in a sworn affadafit, has described Baktash as “the leader of an organised crime and drug trafficking network” and his bother Ibrahim “a chief lieutenant” in Baktash’s alleged drug trafficking activities. Gulam is said to be a leading transporter of heroin across Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East and East Africa, while Vijay (Vicky Goswami) is said to be “the principal manager of Baktash Akasha’s organisation’s drug manufacturing and distribution business”.
Vicky and his partners-in-crime are being represented by Gikandi Ngibuni and Cliff Ombeta, the top criminal lawyers of Kenya. Cliff Ombetta has argued in court that his clients must be released on a personal bond.
In response Muteti has argued that, “If these people were to leave this court and we hold a Red Notice on them, it will mean that we are being uncooperative and going against international treaties we had singed between Kenya and the US. Even though Kenya has the jurisdiction to try the suspects, the US Government also has similar authority.”
The court is expected to hasten the extradition process due to intense lobbying by the US law enforcement authorities with the Kenyan government.
However, sources also confirm that Vicky is trying his level best to ensure that Mamta is not formally charged. The court is expected to announce its decision soon.
Goswami converted to Islam and got married with Mamta Kulkarni when he was in prison. Her hubby was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1997 in Dubai. However, he was released in 2012, on the grounds that he had transformed into a better human being.
Mamta’s whereabouts and controversial rumours of conversion to Islam had always been on-and-off headlines. The glamorous diva from the 90’s was in news last year for turning into a spiritual devotee.
Kulkarni had earlier disclosed the cause for leaving Bollywood to an entertainment website by saying, “Some are born for cause of world … some are born as cause for God, I fall for latter part. So, the call to go to my actual cause of my existence was inevitable (sic).”
She was seen in movies such as `Chinagate`, `Waqt Hamara Hai` and `Karan Arjun` among others.
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