NCB seizes Deepika, Sara Ali Khan's mobile phones after hours-long inquiry

After grilling them for hours on Saturday (September 27), the Narcotics Control Bureau has seized the mobile phones of Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone and Sara Ali Khan as it continues its investigation into the alleged use of drugs in the film industry that came into focus following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The agency has also seized the phones of actor Rakul Preet Singh, Sushant Singh’s former talent manager Jaya Saha, fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Deepika’s manager Karishma Prakash.

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The NCB had questioned Deepika for about six hours at the Evelyn Guest House in Colaba. The agency had also questioned Sara Ali Khan Shraddha Kapoor at its office in Ballard Estate.

The NCB has seized the mobile phones under the Indian Evidence Act, its officials said. The agency has been summoning Bollywood actors and other high-profile names for questioning based on the names that have figured in the WhatsApp messages that are allegedly related to drugs.    

Allegations of drugs use in Bollywood emerged during investigation into the death of Sushant Singh on June 14. His former girlfriend and actor Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty have been arrested by the NCB in the drugs case. The bureau conducted raids at many places in Mumbai and Goo and arrested drug dealers who allegedly supplied contraband to some of the stars it had interrogated.

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Rhea is said to have given the names of Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh saying they were among those who used drugs in the industry. The NCB found Deepika Padukone’s in the chat messages of Jaya Shah, who is associated with talent management company Kwan. According to reports, Deepika is said to have admitted to the agency that she had chatted about drugs with Karishma Prakash.