CBI grills actor Dev for 5 hours over alleged cattle smuggling link

India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today questioned actor and West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress lawmaker Deepak Adhikari, popularly known by his on-screen name Dev, for nearly five hours in connection with its probe into a cattle smuggling racket operating along the border with Bangladesh.

Coming out of the CBI's office at Nizam Palace in south Kolkata after the questioning, Dev told the media that his statement was recorded by the investigation agency, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Replying to a question, he denied having known Enamul Haque, the prime accused in the case.

Dev's name had reportedly surfaced several times during interrogation of other accused in the case, CBI sources said.

The CBI had earlier interrogated several persons, including Bikash Mishra, brother of Binay Mishra, a businessman allegedly involved in the cow smuggling racket and considered close to West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress. The agency had also questioned Enamul Haque.