Don't chase the stars and get killed: Mumbai Police on media frenzy

The media frenzy over questioning of film stars in connection with the drugs probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death that has prompted reporters to chase the celebrities’ cars for exclusive footage, has triggered concerns over the safety of the reporters and others’ lives.

In fact, the Mumbai Police on Saturday (September 26), issued a stern warning, saying the mediapersons should not endanger their own and others’ lives while chasing the vehicles of stars who are being questioned in the drugs case linked to Rajput’s death.

Related news: Deepika leaves NCB office after 6-hour grilling in drugs case

If the police find any media vehicle chasing the stars in a rash manner, the vehicle will be seized and stern action will be taken against the driver, said Sangramsingh Nishandar, DCP (Zone -I), and requested reporters not to chase the actors’ vehicles.

The media frenzy over the drugs case reached its zenith on Saturday when three major Bollywood stars — Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor — arrived for recording their statements before the drugs agency.

As the Bollywood divas set out from their residences, media vehicles tried to chase them to catch elusive photographs and footage up close. While Deepika and Shraddha managed to evade media vehicles in the morning, Sara was followed closely.

Deepika was followed by media when she left after her questioning in the afternoon. This finally prompted the police to issue a warning. This seemed to have had some effect, as no ‘chase sequences’ unfolded when the other two stars left the NCB office in the evening.

Actor Rhea Chakraborty, the jailed girlfriend of Rajput accused of procuring drugs for him, too was mobbed by a horde of newspersons earlier this month after she had left the NCB office after questioning, leading to immense criticism for violation of social distancing rules.