'I don’t consume narcotics': Karan Johar issues statement amid Bollywood-drug probe

Filmmaker Karan Johar, on Friday night, took to his social media account to issue a statement amid rumours of him involved in Bollywood- drug nexus were rife on the internet. It has also been speculated that the filmmaker will soon be summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau(NCB).

In his statement, Karan Johar claimed that he neither consumes narcotics substance nor endorses the consumption of it. Karan came under scrutiny after an old video from a party hosted by the director showing a bunch of actors went viral amid current Bollywood-drug probe. Former SAD MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that drugs were consumed at that part and demanded probe into it. The video featured Deepika Padukone, Malaika Arora, Vicky Kaushal, and Shahid Kapoor among others.

The statement read: "Certain news channels, print/ electronic media and social media platform(s) are wrongly and misleadingly reporting that narcotics were consumed at a party that I, Karan Johar hosted on July 28, 2019 at my residence."

"I had already clarified my position way back in 2019 that the allegations were false.

"In view of the current malicious campaign, I am reiterating that the allegations are completely baseless and false. No narcotics substance was consumed in the party. I WOULD LIKE TO UNEQUIVOCALLY ONCE AGAIN STATE THAT I DO NOT CONSUME NARCOTICS AND I DO NOT PROMOTE OR ENCOURAGE CONSUMPTION OF ANY SUCH SUBSTANCE.

"All these slanderous and malicious statements, news articles and news clippings have unnecessarily subjected me, my family, and my colleagues, and Dharma Productions, to hatred, contempt and ridicule."

Johar`s statement also mentioned Anubhav Chopra, a former assistant director with Dharma Productions, and Dharma Productions director and executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad who have been summoned in connection with the drugs cases link by the NCB.

"I would like to further state that several media / news channels have been airing news reports that Kshitij Prasad and Anubhav Chopra are my "aides" / "close aides". I would like to place on record that I do not know these individuals personally and neither of these two individuals are "aides" or "close aides". NEITHER I, NOR DHARMA PRODUCTIONS CAN BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT PEOPLE DO IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES. THESE ALLEGATIONS DO NOT PERTAIN TO DHARMA PRODUCTIONS.

"I wish to further state that Mr. Anubhav Chopra is not an employee at Dharma Productions. He was briefly associated with us for only two months in the capacity of 2nd assistant director for a film, between November 2011 and January 2012 and as assistant director for the short film in January 2013. He has thereafter never been associated with Dharma Productions for any other project.

"Mr. Kshitij Ravi Prasad joined Dharmatic Entertainment (sister concern of Dharma Productions) in November 2019 as one of the executive producers on contract basis for a project which eventually did not materialise."

Karan Johar culminated his statement by saying that media is presenting distorted and false allegations against him. "However, in the past few days, the media has resorted to distasteful, distorted and false allegations. I hope the members of the media would exercise restraint else I will be left with no option but to legally protect my rights against this baseless attack on me," he wrote.

Earlier, in an interview with Rajeev Masnad, Karan had clarified that drugs were not used in his party. He had asserted that why would he upload a video online if it shows a drug party being organised at his place. “Apparently you are not allowed to scratch your nose. Apparently, you are not allowed to put your phone in your back pocket. Apparently, a shadow of light is perceived to be some kind of powder," he had said.