Former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni, who appeared in several Hindi films including Karan Arjun in the 1990s, has returned to India after 25 years. On reaching Mumbai, she shared a video on Instagram, expressing her happiness on returning home. Ms Kulkarni had left the country in 2000.
But her return also serves as a reminder of a turbulent chapter in her life. The actress was embroiled in a high-profile drug case that rocked Bollywood and law enforcement circles. The Rs 2,000 crore case first came to light in 2016, when the Thane police began investigating a major drug smuggling operation.
Ms Kulkarni was accused in the case along with her partner Vicky Goswami, who is an alleged drug mafia. The police claimed that Ms Kulkarni was present at a meeting held at Bliss Hotel in Kenya on January 8, 2016, where details of the drug operation were allegedly discussed.
While Ms Kulkarni was accused of being part of the scheme and even being appointed as the director of Avon Lifesciences, the evidence provided by the Thane police was flimsy at best. The allegations were primarily based on the statement given by co-accused Jay Mukhi, who later retracted his testimony, claiming it was given under pressure.
The case took a crucial turn when the Bombay High Court intervened. In a recent judgment, the court quashed the FIR against Ms Kulkarni, citing insufficient evidence. A bench led by Justices Bharati Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande admitted that apart from the allegations in the FIR, there was no concrete evidence against the actress. Ms Kulkarni, who argued that she was being made a scapegoat, was granted relief, allowing her to proceed with the case without the stigma of being subjected to it.
Over the past several years, despite the allegations, Ms Kulkarni has always denied any wrongdoing. Although the scandal affected her public image and ended her Bollywood career, a recent court verdict has cleared her name.