Deepika Padukone: Bollywood star questioned in drugs case
By Amie T. Camara
Afrinity Production make known to you the questioning of Bollywood star Deepika Padukone by India’s narcotics board in an investigation linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Padukone is among six people to be summoned – two other actresses will also be questioned on Saturday.
BBC said, Rajput’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly buying drugs for him – claims she has denied.
The case has fuelled months of media coverage and speculation in India.
Actresses Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor are among those who will be questioned on Saturday, according to news reports. Another actress, Rakul Preet Singh, was questioned on Friday.
Rajput, 34, was found dead in his flat in Mumbai on 14 June. Police at the time said he had killed himself.
But his family later registered a police complaint against Chakraborty, accusing her of abetment to suicide and other crimes, all of which she has denied.
The case is now being investigated by three federal agencies.
With investigators drip-feeding nuggets of information to the media, rumours and conjecture over what happened and who is responsible have been rife.
What is the case?
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seems to be pursuing two investigations – the first into Rhea Chakraborty, her brother and Rajput’s former house manager.
All three were arrested for allegedly organising and financing the actor’s alleged consumption of cannabis. They have denied any wrongdoing.
The second investigation, which followed on from the first, is into claims of widespread use of drugs in Bollywood, according to local media.
Sources___ Reteurs, BBC