Deepika admits to WhatsApp drug chats; Kshitij Prasad arrested

Top Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone has reportedly admitted that she did discuss drugs with Karishma Prakash in the WhatsApp chat, according to Narcotics Control Bureau sources. The actress was grilled by the NCB today.

As per NCB sources to CNN-News18, Deepika Padukone and her manager Karishma Prakash can be summoned by the NCB again tomorrow. Reportedly, both are evasive and are giving similar answers.

Deepika's interrogation took place in two rounds and concluded after five hours of questioning.

The Narcotics Control Bureau meanwhile arrested Dharma Productions executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad.

He was quizzed by the NCB for nearly 24 hours in connection with its probe into the drugs case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Earlier, Karishma was also questioned in the drug probe. The two women were also made to confront each other by the NCB officials.

Actors Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan were also questioned by the NCB officials on Saturday as the central agency investigates the Bollywood drugs case, in the wake of the probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s untimely death.

Both the actors have reached the NCB office in south Mumbai and their questioning is already on. Actor Sara Ali Khan, who had asked for more time to join the probe, has also reached the NCB office. The actress was called in for questioning at 12:30 pm.

These celebrities’ chats allegedly discussing drugs on a WhatsApp group have led the NCB to summon them for questioning.

An NCB official said that she will be questioned about the alleged drug chats with Deepika’s former manager Karishma Prakash.

Deepika will also be questioned if she still consumes drugs, who all were there at the Koko club in 2017 when she asked Karishma to bring drugs.

Shraddha Kapoor too reached the NCB office in south Mumbai to record her statement in the drug probe linked to Sushant Singh Rajput's death.

Shraddha Kapoor has informed the NCB that a party was held at the Pawana guesthouse of Sushant Singh Rajput, which she also attended after the release of the film Chhichhore (2019). The party began at around 3pm and continued till early hours of the next day. She reportedly told the NCB that weed and alcohol were consumed there, but denies having consumed any drugs herself.

After grilling Deepika Padukone's manager, Karishma Prakash, and actor Rakul Preet Singh for hours on Friday (September 25), Shraddha, Deepika and Sara Ali Khan are being grilled today

Sara Ali Khan was summoned to report at 10:30 am today, but had requested for more time. The NCB allowed her the time she had asked for. She has now reached the NCB office, after consulting her lawyers before her questioning.

According to the official, the Mumbai police has deployed adequate security outside the NCB office.

Reports say that the actors are expected to be questioned about how and from whom they procured drugs and whether they were meant for personal consumption or for someone else.

Raveena calls stars ‘soft targets’

Meanwhile, actor Raveen Tandon has called celebrities ‘soft target’ even as the NCB is questioning Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor in the ongoing crackdown on the alleged drug nexus in the film industry.

In a tweet, Raveena wrote, “The ‘Big Guys’ In my tweet. No drug supplying can happen without the ashirwad (blessings) of local authorities. Those are the Big fish that swim away unquestioned. If a Journo can reach the suppliers on stings. Can’t the authorities sniff them out? Celebrities are soft targets.”

Earlier, Dharma Productions executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad was also quizzed by the NCB. Meanwhile, Rhea Chakraborty, brother Showik along with over a dozen people remain in NCB's custody.

The probing agency got ‘important information’ about the case during the questioning of Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha, an official said.

The NCB has also recorded the statements of Kwan Talent Management Agency CEO Dhruv Chitgopekar and noted producer Madhu Mantena Varna, and others.

The agency registered a drugs case under the NDPS Act after the Enforcement Directorate was probing the money laundering charges in actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case. Rajput (34) was found hanging in his apartment in suburban Bandra on 14 June.

(With inputs from Press Trust of India, News18, India Today, ANI)