NCB summons Deepika, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor in drug probe

In what came as a huge development in the alleged Bollywood drug nexus, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has issued summons to actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, and Rakul Preet Singh, according to media reports.

Deepika Padukone has been summoned on Friday and Rakul Preet Singh on Thursday (September 24). Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor will be questioned on Saturday.

These actors are the most high-profile celebrities from the film industry to have emerged in the probe so far.

Designer Simone Khambatta too will be questioned on Thursday.

The central anti-drugs agency has already summoned Karishma Prakash and KWAN talent management agency’s CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar, but the former could not appear before the agency on Tuesday due to ill-health.

Prakash has been exempted from appearance before the anti-drug agency till Friday, the official said.

Sources in the NCB said some WhatsApp conversations purportedly discussing drugs are on the radar of the agency. Some of these chats were purportedly between Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash and one “D”, they said.

Meanwhile, the agency questioned actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s talent manager Jaya Saha once again on Tuesday (September 23) and has been called again on Wednesday. She was quizzed by the NCB in connection with alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus and later allowed to leave.

Related news: Sushant used people close to him to sustain his drug habit: Rhea in bail plea

Rajput’s former manager Shruti Modi will be called for questioning on Thursday, the official said.

The drug law enforcement agency has so far arrested more than 12 people, including Rajput’s girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, in connection with its probe linked to the case of the actor’s death.

Rhea Chakraborty (28) was arrested after 59 grams of marijuana was seized during searches in Mumbai. She has been accused by the anti-drugs agency of arranging drugs for Rajput.

According to NDTV, Sara Ali Khan’s and Shraddha Kapoor’s names, both co-stars of Sushant Singh Rajput, reportedly came up while the NCB was questioning Chakraborty.

Rajput (34) was found hanging at his home in suburban Bandra on June 14.

(With inputs from agencies)