Drugs case: Not received summons, says Rakul Preet Singh; NCB differs

Rakul Preet Singh

Actress Rakul Preet Singh, who was summoned for questioning by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), investigating the drug syndicate linked to Bollywood, on Thursday said that she has not received the summons.

"I have not received the alleged summons either at Mumbai or Hyderabad so far," said Rakul Preet Singh.

However, the NCB said, "Summons to Rakul Preet Singh were issued and she was contacted through various platforms, including the phone but she was not available."

"There has been no response from her so far," said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Director, NCB.

After a few hours, NCB issued fresh summons to Rakul Preet Singh. "Yes, she (Rakul Preet Singh) has acknowledged the summons and updated her latest address also," said NCB.

According to sources, during the questioning of Sushant Singh Rajput's talent manager Jaya Saha, names of several Bollywood celebrities, including Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor, surfaced for allegedly procuring drugs banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Meanwhile, designer Simone Khambatta and Sushant's former manager Shruti Modi deposed before the NCB in Mumbai on Thursday. Khambatta arrived at the NCB office for questioning around 10.15 am.

On Thursday, Dharma Productions director and executive producer Kshitij Ravi Prasad was also summoned by NCB. He will join the probe on Friday.

A NCB source said that actress Deepika Padukone has been called on September 25 for questioning, while Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor have been summoned for September 26.

The NCB has already arrested Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Sushant's house manager Samuel Miranda, personal staff Dipesh Sawant and over 15 others in the case so far.

The NCB has registered a case on the request of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the alleged drug chats of Showik, Miranda and several others came to the fore.

Responding to a question on the number of cases the drugs law enforcement agency is probing, an NCB official said: "The agency has registered two separate cases under the NDPS Act. There are few aspects in both cases which warrant examination of both Sara and Shraddha, so they will be examined in both cases." Both cases were with the NCB and have common link.

Sushant was found hanging in his Bandra's Mont Blanc apartment on June 14.

Besides the CBI and the ED, NCB is the third agency to probe into the death case of Sushant.

(With inputs from Faizan Khan)

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On Thursday, Kshitij Prasad, director at Dharma productions, was summoned by NCB. He will join the probe on Friday.