Deepika Padukone | Photo credit: PTI
Key points
- Deepika Padukone was interrogated for almost five hours by NCB
- Deepika Padukone confronted her manager during questioning
- The agency had previously arrested actress Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik.
MumbaiActress Deepika Padukone, who was questioned by the NCB on Saturday in a drug investigation linked to the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput, provided clarification about her alleged drug talks with her manager during questioning.
Padukone, one of the prominent names in the Hindi film industry, was questioned for nearly five hours by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai.
The actress was subpoenaed by the anti-drug agency after her manager Karishma Prakash’s WhatsApp chats came to light, including alleged drug talks with her.
Padukone, who confronted Prakash during questioning, admitted to taking part in the 2017 ‘drug talks’ with his manager.
In WhatsApp chats dating back to 2017, Padukone had allegedly asked Prakash for “maal” and “hash”.
Giving clarification about the talks during his questioning on Saturday, Padukone denied “using drugs” and said “maal” is a code word for cigarette, Times Now’s Siddhant reported, citing sources.
Padukone’s mobile phone has been seized by the drug agency in connection with its investigation.
NCB investigates Bollywood drug nexus
In addition to Padukone, actresses Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan were also questioned by the OCN separately on Saturday regarding the alleged drug nexus.
The agency had previously arrested actress Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Rajput manager Samuel Miranda, domestic helper Dipesh Sawant and some suspected drug traffickers, in their drug investigation.
Rhea, who is currently housed in Mumbai Byculla Prison, is charged with acquiring drugs for Rajputs. She was arrested on September 9.
The NCB has said that the 28-year-old was an “active member” of a drug syndicate and purchased drugs for Rajputs.
Rajput was found dead in his apartment in Mumbai suburban Bandra on June 14.
