Mumbai: In its widening crackdown on the drugs racket in Mumbai film industry, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has zeroed in on several top film stars and their publicity agents from whom they used to procure the contraband.
While officially nothing has been disclosed yet, reports said the movie stars allegedly include Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shradda Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh and fashion designer Simone Khambatta.
In a related development, the bail application of Rhea Chakraborty, prime accused in the Sushant Singh Rajpoot death case, has been rejected again and her remand extended till October 6.
Rhea and her brother Showik, whose custody was to end today after 14 days in jail, had moved a bail application in the Bombay high court.
The names of Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh and Simone Khambatta had come up during the interrogation of Rhea Ckakraborty who is currently in jail on drugs charge and for alleged involvement in Sushant Singh Rajpoot death case.
The names of Deepika Padukone and Shradda Kapoor had come up during the examination of drugs chats between them and their publicity managers. The NCB has summoned Deepika Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash and the talent management agency's CEO Dhurv Chitgopekar in connection with the drugs probe.
Sources said the name 'D' that surfaced in drugs chat is Deepika Padukone. In the drugs chat with 'K', Deepika asked for 'hash, not weed'. Earlier Sraddha Kapoor's name had also surfaced in a drugs chat. So far, none of the film stars has been summoned by the NCB for questioning.
However, the NCB summoned Jaya Saha, senior manager with a talent management agency which handles the PR of film stars. 'K' who figures in the drugs chat is Karishma Prakash who handles Deepika Padukone's account. Jaya Saha was questioned on Monday by the NCB for nearly five hours over alleged drugs chats with several celebrities.(UNI)