Drugs in Bollywood: India’s NCB questions Deepika Padukone

India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) today interrogated Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone in Mumbai as the probe into the Bollywood-drugs nexus widened.

Deepika reached a makeshift NCB office in south Mumbai locality Colaba this morning to record her statement, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting an official.

Two other Bollywood actresses Shraddha Kapoor and Sara Ali Khan are also set to appear before the probe agency later today.

Actor Rakul Preet Singh and Padukone's manager Karishma Prakash appeared before the NCB yesterday.

The NCB, which began the probe after a drugs angle came to light in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June, has now widened its investigation and called film celebrities for questioning.

The questioning of Deepika took place amidst heavy police deployment outside the NCB office where barricades have been put up. Deepika's husband and actor Ranveer Singh had reportedly asked the NCB if he could also be present during her interrogation. However, the NCB had on Friday clarified that it did not receive any such request.

Deepika's manager Karishma Prakash, who was questioned by the NCB team on Friday, has also been asked to remain present for further questioning later today, another official said.

Prakash's WhatsApp chats included conversations about drugs with one 'D' and the federal anti-narcotic agency wanted to find out who this person was, the NCB sources had said earlier.

Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14. His death has sparked a lot of controversy in the media and the case is currently being investigated by three federal agencies -- Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the NCB.

Rajput's girlfriend, actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused by his family of abetting his alleged suicide, has been arrested in the drugs case linked to his death.

Meanwhile, Bollywood director-producer Karan Johar has issued a long statement seeking to bin media reports alleging that narcotics were consumed at one of his house parties, calling the claims "baseless and false."

In the statement shared on Instagram, the filmmaker said neither he consumes narcotics nor does he promote usage of any such substance.

Karan Johar's response came after an old video from a star-studded party at his residence resurfaced on social media.