The Bureau of Narcotics Control (NCB) on Wednesday issued a subpoena to Bollywood actresses, including Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shradhha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh in a drug-Bollywood nexus case.
According to the ANI news agency, Deepika Padukone was summoned on September 25, while Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan were summoned on September 26.
Deepika Padukone’s name has reportedly surfaced in various drug-related chats, leaving social media stunned.
Some drug-related WhatsApp conversations are on the agency’s radar, according to reports. Few chats, which are now in the public domain, were supposedly between Padukone’s manager and an employee of Kwan’s talent management company, Karishma Prakash, and a “D”.
The Kwan talent management agency has contracts with various A-lister Bollywood actors and actresses. Deepika Padukone is one of them.
NCB summons Deepika’s manager
Previously, the NCB, which is investigating the alleged link between drugs and Bollywood, had summoned Karishma Prakash, as well as the firm’s CEO, Dhruv Chitgopekar, for questioning.
During the NCB investigation into the drugs angle in the death case of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a broader drug nexus emerged in Bollywood.
Sushant’s talent manager, Jaya Saha, was questioned by the NCB early Monday.
During their interrogation, the NCB obtained information on many people who allegedly had an active role in the nexus between drugs and Bollywood.
Some WhatsApp chats from people previously questioned by the NCB suggested a discussion about drugs, according to reports.
Bollywood drug investigation: Madhu Mantena at the NCB office
Madhu Mantena, a Bollywood film producer, arrived at NCB’s guest house on Wednesday to record his statement regarding the agency’s investigation into the alleged link between Bollywood and drugs.
The OCN had summoned Mantena for questioning in connection with the investigation. He arrived at the NCB guesthouse in South Mumbai around 11.30am, an official told a news agency.
Madhu Mantena was a co-producer on the 2016 Bollywood film ‘Udta Punjab’, which dealt with the threat of drugs.
Rhea, Showik’s bail petition to be taken tomorrow
So far, the NCB has arrested more than 12 people, including Rajput’s girlfriend and actress, Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty, in connection with the investigation into the angle of drugs in the case of the actor’s death.
Rhea Chakraborty, in her statement to the NCB, had confessed that she would party with Sara, Shraddha, Rakul and Sushant at the late actor’s Lonavala farm.
The bail hearing on Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik will take place tomorrow when the Bombay High Court declared a holiday on Wednesday, her lawyer said.
The Superior Court declared a holiday for the court due to heavy rains in the state capital, adding that all hearings scheduled for today will resume tomorrow.
“The Chief Justice has declared a public holiday today for the Bombay High Court and today’s board will meet tomorrow,” Rhea’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde told reporters.
With contributions from the agency
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