Did Aqueel spill Harindra’s name?

Two days after DJ Aqueel was detained at Dubai airport for allegedly possesing the drug ‘Ecstasy’, Harindra Singh, the vice-chairman and managing director of media and communications agency Percept Holdings was arrested from Hotel Le Meridien with two of his associates on similar charges on Wednesday.

Singh, along with company spokesperson Ajay Upadhyaya and another friend, were reportedly picked up from his room when the Dubai police raided it on a tip-off.

What has also emerged following the detention of the two high-profile personalities is that Dubai authorities could have got specific information abo-ut Aqueel and Singh, according to intelligence agencies here.

According to a central intelligence officer, the Dubai police have been keeping a close watch on celebrities from the sub-continent coming into Dubai. For the past few months, the police there are said to have been working on specific intelligence inputs that celebs who come to enjoy Dubai’s party scene were smuggling in banned substances.

Singh was in Dubai for Aqueel’s performance at Trilogy discotheque and the launch of his remix album.

A source said that at the time of his detention Aqueel was to board a flight back to India, while Singh had stayed back. The same source said that during sustained questioning by police, Aqueel may have named Singh.

Singh's friends in the city, however, are shocked at the news. “I have never seen Harindra doing drugs. In fact, he's a health freak. I can't believe he would be caught on drug charges,” says director Madhur Bhandarkar who had joined hands with Percept to produce Corporate and Traffic Signal.

While Harindra's brother Shailendra looks after the films divison, Harindra handles the other divisions like advertising and events etc. "Shailendra is the media face, while Harindra is quiet and low-profile," said sources close to the brothers. Sources in Dubai said following medical tests, Harindra has tested positive for used of the banned substance.

Meanwhile, Aqueel continues to remain in detention. His father-in-law, actor Sanjay Khan, and brother-in-law, actor Zayed Khan, are in Dubai to secure his release. "If he does not get bail on Thursday, tomorrow is a holiday in Dubai. In that case Aqueel's fate might be decided on Saturday or Sunday," said sources.

While Aqueel's wife Farah Khan is also in Dubai, her sister Suzanne Khan and her husband Hrithik Roshan are holidaying in London where the actor is slated to attened the IIFA awards function at Yorkshire. "If Aqueel's bail plea is rejected, Suzanne might join the family in Dubai," said a source.

According to a senior officer from the Intelligence Bureau, the quantity of banned substance found in possession of Aqueel and Singh was very less, indicating that the authorities in Dubai had been tipped off.  "Aqueel was found in possession of 0.04 grams of 'Ecstasy'. Same is the case with Singh.

This means the authorities were fed with specific information that both were carrying the banned substance," the officer said.

The Dubai authorities have also been in touch with their counterparts in India. "We have shared information with the Dubai authorities on how the banned substances are being smuggled into Dubai," the officer said.

But wriggling out of the case might not be easy for the celebs. According to senior lawyer Majeed Memon, it's a sticky situation for both Aqueel and Singh. "Dubai laws are very strict. The accused cannot apply for bail till the entire case is investigated," Memon said.