Deepika Padukone's manager had been questioned in a case linked to WhatsApp messages
Highlights
- The actors have been asked to appear in the next three days
- These are the most high-profile names to come up in the probe
- Deepika Padukone's manager was questioned yesterday in the case
Actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh have been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau in a stunning twist to the drugs probe linked to the Sushant Singh Rajput investigation. They all have been asked to appear in the next three days.
These are the most high-profile names to come up in a widening probe into allegations of drugs linked to the film industry, which emerged during the investigations into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14.
Deepika Padukone has been summoned on Friday and Rakul Preet Singh today. Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor will be questioned on Saturday and fashion designer Simone Khambatta will also be questioned tomorrow, say officials.
Deepika Padukone's business manager Karishma Prakash will also be questioned on Friday in a case that the Narcotics Control Bureau had filed on the basis of WhatsApp messages retrieved from Rhea Chakraborty's mobile phone, which had revealed conversations on procuring drugs. Significantly, however, there has been no seizure of drugs in this case so far.
Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor's names reportedly came up during Rhea Chakraborty's questioning (File)
Investigators are looking into the role of Deepika Padukone -- a Bollywood A-lister and one of the country's top actors -- reportedly after talent agency executive Jaya Saha's phone revealed a WhatsApp chat between one "D" and "K" on arranging drugs. Shraddha Kapoor's name reportedly also figured in the chats retrieved from Jaya Saha, who is being questioned too.
Rhea Chakraborty, a 28-year-old actor, was arrested in a separate case registered after 59 grams of marijuana was seized during searches in Mumbai. She has been accused by the anti-drugs agency of arranging drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput, whom she dated in his last few months.
She and her brother Showik Chakraborty were on Tuesday sent to jail till October 6. Two employees of Sushant Singh Rajput and alleged drug dealers linked to the film fraternity are also among the 15 people arrested till now.
The names of Sara Ali Khan, a co-star of Sushant Singh Rajput, and Rakul Preet Singh reportedly came up during the questioning of Rhea Chakraborty.
Rakul Preet Singh had last week gone to the Delhi High Court alleging a media trial over reports that she had been named among drug users in Bollywood.