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Apollo admits drug traces in Rahul's urine

        New Delhi: The Rahul Mahajan saga got another twist today with Apollo Hospital authorities confirming that faint traces of drugs were found in Rahul's urine samples. Only a day after they said that Rahul had tested negative for all known drugs, Apollo Hospital spokesperson Karan Thakur said that tests confirmed faint traces of drugs in Rahul's urine. He however, said it was well within the permissible limit. "Though the test conducted on Mahajan confirmed faint traces of drugs, they are very much within the permissible limit and therefore the report for them is negative," he said. Over the faux pass, he said: "We do not examine traces. We only examine whether a sample is negative or positive for any particular drug".

      Allegations of drug abuse leading to the death of Vivek Moitra, the secretary of late BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, and hospitalisation of Rahul Mahajan, the late leader's son, first came to light when reports surfaced that a white powdery substance was found in their possession while they were admitted to hospital over sudden illness. While Apollo said that Rahul had tested negative for all known drugs, AIIMS, which conducted Moitra's autopsy said that cocaine and traces of thallium were found in his body. The saga got another twist when drug peddlers claimed that Sahil Zarru, who was present at Rahul's house along with three others and Moitra that fateful night could have bought drugs for him.

      Authorities at the Apollo Hospital have now confirmed that the test reports by Dr Lal's Pathological Lab showed the presence of traces of a sedative, Benzodiazepine, in his urine sample. However, when asked whether Rahul had drugs, Dr. Anupam Sibal, Apollo's Medical Director replied, "perhaps yes, perhaps no". He maintained that it was the job of the police to investigate what led to Rahul's clinical condition. Sibal explained the contradiction by stating that the hospital did not conduct quantitative tests and only performed tests for the qualitative presence of drugs. The hospital authorities distributed copies of the report which showed the presence of drugs, including cocaine metabolites and cannabinoids in Rahul's urine sample. "The condition of Rahul Mahajan is improving. His vital parameters are functioning fine. He is responding to liquid diet and is on non-invasive ventilator," Dr. Sibal added.

Sahil admits fetching drugs for Rahul (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Sahil Zaroo, the alleged drug peddler in the Rahul Mahajan case, on Sunday admitted that he had got the drug for late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan's son Rahul and secretary Vivek Moitra. Additional DCP of Delhi Police Manish Aggarwal said that Zaroo admitted this during interrogation by the Special Cell at Chanakya Puri Police Station earlier today. Aggarwal, however, added that this was just the preliminary stage of interrogation. Later, Zaroo, who was arrested from Srinager on Saturday night, was produced in Patiala Court, which remanded him to eight days of police custody. Zaroo was interrogated for four nearly four hours in connection with events at the party on Thursday that led to Vivek Moitra's death while Rahul lost consciousness after the get-together. The police, however, could not take the statement of Rahul Mahajan as he was declared "unfit" by the Apollo Hospital, Aggarwal said. When asked if a case would be filed against Rahul, he said that police would not be able to "ascertain what transpired" at the party unless they question Rahul. Sahil's lawyer Mohammad Aslam Goni has said that his client was innocent and was being framed in the Rahul Mahajan case.

      Police sources said that they had been questioning several persons including fourteen Nigerians in connection with the case. "We are looking into the drugs angle also," they said. Aggarwal further said that only Sahil was arrested in the case so far, adding the interrogation of several other persons in connection with the supply of drugs was also on, including Tishay Khanna, Karan Ahuja and Rahul Malhotra, who were also present at the party on Thursday night along with Sahil. On being asked about the initial post-mortem report of Maitra, he said, that it was just an initial report submitted by AIIMS and nothing could be said conclusively till the viscera report came from CFSL. However, according to sources, the report is said to have stated that there has been overdose of drugs that led to Moitra's death. The report termed the cause of death as "narcotics knockout to death". However, no official confirmation has been made regarding the report. Meanwhile, the Gastric Lavage test of Rahul is yet to be released which could reveal the details that led to his deteriorating condition on Thursday night.

Vivek Moitra cremated  (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: The last rites of Vivek Moitra, secretary of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, was performed at his hometown here on Sunday after he died of drug abuse in New Delhi in wee hours on Friday. While the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, where a post mortem was conducted on the body of Moitra, contained traces of cocaine, the private Apollo Hospital, where Rahul is being treated claimed there was no trace of any known toxicants in his blood. "When his body was being taken to the crematorium his mother and sister quoted that their son was a victim of a conspiracy," said Prakash Mehta, State President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who was present at the cremation of Moitra. Vivek is survived by his octogenarian father and 75-year-old mother with a young sister.

Rahul will reform, says Vajpayee  (Go To Top)
by Rajiv Kimta

      Kullu (HP): Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Sunday came out in full support of Rahul Mahajan who is currently recovering from the alleged drug abuse, saying at young age people do make mistakes after falling into wrong company. In what was seen till Saturday, the BJP distancing itself from the entire episode, the former Prime Minister was in full throttle today to extend a helping hand in shaping Rahul's political career in the BJP and said: "We will try to bring him back on track". Vajpayee's latest support would come as a great relief for the Mahajan family, which has been alleging that it is being made a victim of a bigger conspiracy. When asked by ANI, what shape Rahul Mahajan's political career would take, the former Prime Minister was evasive in his reply. He said: "The party will decide on this matter at an appropriate time". But the vacancy created by the demise of Pramod Mahajan, who was seen as one of the generation next leaders of the BJP, Vajpayee said "there can be only one Lakshman". The grand old man of BJP who is currently in Kullu spending his summer vacation had also some suggestions for the second- generation leaders. On being asked who will be the leader for the next generation, Vajpayee quipped, "Leaders are not made they evolve by themselves". Vajpayee also criticised the UPA Government for "going soft on terror". Referring to the recent terror attacks across the country, Vajpayee said: "Now we are witnessing more acts of terror from Kashmir to Kanyakumari as the UPA government has repealed the stringent acts brought out by the NDA government to tackle terrorism".