Bollywood drug NCB summons (Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Sep-Oct 2020), Maharashtra

In September and October 2020, India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) summoned top Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, and Sara Ali Khan for questioning in a drug case that emerged from the investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. The NCB, led by zonal director Sameer Wankhede, claimed it had retrieved WhatsApp chats discussing drugs. The actresses were questioned about alleged drug procurement and consumption. The case primarily targeted Rhea Chakraborty, Rajput’s girlfriend, and her brother Showik, who were arrested for allegedly organising drugs. The summoning of A-list stars sent shockwaves through the film industry and dominated national headlines.

Deepika Padukone, Shraddha Kapoor, and Sara Ali Khan were never charged; the NCB filed no case against them due to lack of evidence. Rhea Chakraborty was arrested and spent a month in custody before receiving bail. In 2023, the NCB officially dropped all drug charges against Rhea and Showik Chakraborty, citing insufficient evidence, and the special court accepted the closure report, effectively ending the case against all major film personalities.

The central controversies revolved around whether the NCB summons were based on concrete evidence or constituted a media-driven witch-hunt. Critics argued that the agency leaked private WhatsApp chats to sensationalise the case, violating privacy rights. The legal validity of basing drug charges on recovered chat messages, the possible political misuse of the NCB to target rivals, and the selective summoning of high-profile women while other industry figures were ignored were hotly debated.

The case ignited a fierce debate on media trials, with 24/7 news coverage often declaring guilt before any judicial finding. It exposed the vulnerability of celebrities to reputational damage through investigative leaks. Public discourse scrutinised the harsh application of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act against consumers versus peddlers. The episode also deepened the divide between sections of the media, the film industry, and investigating agencies, leaving a lasting shadow on the relationship between Bollywood and law enforcement.