Mamta Kulkarni denies drug allegations, claims she is "yogini"

Mumbai, Sep 9 (PTI) Former Bollywood actress MamtaKulkarni, named as an accused in the Rs 2,000 crore ephedrinedrug haul case being probed by the neighbouring Thane police,today claimed that she was innocent. "Don’t look at me as an accused but as a victim of aconspiracy," said Kulkarni, based in Kenya, in a recordedspeech played by her lawyers at a press conference here. "My passport copies are there with all the entries, mybank statements are there….I have nothing to hide, the copshave seen my statements, they have not found anything againstme, there is no single evidence," she said. The actress, who starred in the 1990s blockbuster KaranArjun among other films, also said that she was now heavilyinfluenced by spirituality and was a "yogini". Noting that she only had fixed deposits of over Rs 25lakh, she said, "but that is my money. I have worked for tenyears in Bollywood and did more than 30 to 40 concerts." Mamta alleged that her image was being tarnishedunnecessarily because of "my proximity to a certainindividual", she said. Her Mumbai-based lawyer, Majeed Memon, said at the pressconference that Kulkarni had written a letter to the UnionMinister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju about her case. Another lawyer, US-based Daniel Arshack, who was alsopresent, said when the Indian government asked the Interpol toissue a red corner notice against her, the internationalagency refused, citing lack of evidence. "US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has long time interestin bringing her long-time friend – Vikey Goswami – either toextradite him or bring him through India (to the US)," Arshacksaid, asking why the DEA officials visited Thane and why werethey interfering in the probe. (More) PTI VI KRKMRJ