Drugs probe: NCB to question Rakul Preet today, Deepika Padukone tomorrow

In a major development in the drugs probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, the Narcotics Control Bureau has issued summons to Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan and Rakul Preet Singh.

Shraddha and Rakul Preet have been asked to appear before the NCB on Thursday, and Deepika Padukone on Friday.

Sara Ali Khan has been asked to appear for questioning on Saturday. However, Rakul Preet Singh in her official statement she has “not received the alleged summons either at Mumbai or Hyderabad so far”.

However,NCB officials said the actress has been issued summons.

She was contacted through various platforms, including a phone number which is available with the agency. But, there has been no response from her so far, the official said.

Fashion designer Simone Khambata reached the NCB guest house in Mumbai on Thursday morning to appear before the agency in connection with its probe into an alleged Bollywood-drugs nexus, an official said. Khambata’s name cropped up in the questioning of some persons during the Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) probe into the matter.

She reached the NCB guest house at Colaba in south Mumbai around 9.30 am, the official said.

Earlier, the NCB summoned Deepika Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash. She has sought exemption from the investigation till September 25. According to NCB sources, some WhatsApp conversations purportedly discussing drugs were on the radar of the agency. Some of these chats were purportedly between Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash and one “D”, they said.

The agency has so far arrested more than a dozen persons, including Sushant’s girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in the case. Last week, Rakul had moved the Delhi High Court seeking to stop media reports from connecting her with the Rhea Chakraborty drug case.

Sushant’s talent manager Jaya Saha was questioned by the NCB on Monday. Sushant was found dead at his home in Bandra on June 14.