NCB questions Rakul Preet, Deepika’s manager in Bollywood drugs case
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has started questioning actor Rakul Preet Singh at its guest office in south Mumbai in its ongoing drug probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case.
Actor Deepika Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash is also being grilled at the NCB’s Colaba guest house, officials said.
Rakul Preet Singh had acknowledged the summons sent to her on Thursday to join the probe, NCB officials said. Earlier in the day, the actor in an official statement had said she has “not received the alleged summons either at Mumbai or Hyderabad”.
The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in the SSR’s alleged suicide, has now widened its investigation and asked some ‘A-listers’ of the Mumbai film industry, to “join the probe”, an official said.
NCB sources claim that there was a “reference” to Rakul Preet Singh and Sara Ali Khan in the statement of Rajput’s girlfriend and actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been arrested in the case.
Related news: Deepika, Sara Ali Khan in Mumbai to face probe in drugs case
On Thursday, fashion designer Simone Khambata was questioned by the NCB, an official said. Her name cropped up in the questioning of some persons during the probe in the matter, he said.
Some WhatsApp chats of the persons who were questioned earlier by the NCB suggested discussion about drugs. The agency has so far registered two cases, one pertaining to drugs angle related to Rajput’s death case and the other in connection with the alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus, a senior official said, adding that “both the cases have common linkages”.
Rhea Chakraborty, who is currently housed at the Byculla Jail in Mumbai, has been accused of “being an active member of a drug syndicate” and organizing drugs for Rajput, who she dated.
Chakraborty has denied the allegations that she is an active member of a “drug syndicate”.
The NCB has summoned Deepika Padukone tomorrow (September 26). Deepika has reportedly acknowledged the summons issued to her. She is travelling to Mumbai from Goa, where she was shooting.