The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has not finished its ongoing investigation into the drug-Bollywood nexus, sources confirmed to Republic. Following the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty and the questioning of Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh, among others, ‘bigger and more influential’ names are likely to appear soon and be summoned, according to sources. The next phase of the investigation is likely to last a month and involve the biggest names in Bollywood.
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The biggest names in the third phase of NCB drug research
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had entered the scene after finding evidence of Rhea Chakraborty’s alleged involvement in a drug cartel when the Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate investigated the death case of Sushant Singh Rajput. His questioning, the subsequent arrest and that of his brother Showik, and Sushant staff such as Samuel Miranda and Dipesh Sawant were part of Phase 1 of the investigation.
Phase 2 led to the emergence of stars more popular than Rhea Chakraborty, such as Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, and Rakul Preet Singh, all in connection with the FIRs submitted to do with the investigation of Sushant’s death case. The actors had been confronted with their supposed chats where they had searched for drugs, and their phones had been abused and cloned. Employees of the talent agency KWAN were also summoned, and it was their talks with the stars that led to the call and the line of interrogations on Friday and Saturday, on which no clean sheets have been given.
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According to sources, Phase 3 of the NCB probe is set to bring ‘bigger names’ behind the scenes and under the radar today. Officials are likely to call out the ‘most influential names’ and the process will take a month. Not only that, the names of people associated with the media are also likely to emerge in this investigation.
NCB’s Bollywood Drug Research
Rhea Chakraborty and others involved with Sushant have been taken into NCB custody until October 6 and are currently housed in Byculla jail. Kshijit Prasad, an executive producer and director previously associated with a major production company, is in the custody of NCB until October 3. Actors Abigail Pande and Sanam Johar have also booked for alleged drug seizures at their home.
Meanwhile, the arrival of NCB Director General Rakesh Asthana in Mumbai and his meeting with officers Sameer Wankhede and Deputy Director KPS Malhotra brought to light another dimension of the ongoing investigation. According to sources, he has given officers six months to present the charge sheet. None of the actors have received a clean note yet.
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