The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Thursday questioned and recorded the statements of Shruti Modi, former business manager of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, and fashion designer Simone Khambatta.

The central agency is investigating the drug angle in the death of Rajput, who was found hanging at his residence in Bandra on June 14. It has summoned several actors whose names figured during the investigation.

The NCB on Thursday also questioned actor Rhea Chakraborty’s brother, Showik, and Rajput’s staff member Deepesh Sawant in the Taloja jail and recorded their statements.

“Simone Khambatta’s name had surfaced during the questioning of Rhea Chakraborty, while Shruti Modi was named in the FIR which we have registered on the basis of information shared by the Enforcement Directorate. They were asked questions on the basis of information we had received from Rhea Chakraborty. Their questioning will continue in the coming days,” said an NCB official.

The official said that the ED had retrieved deleted WhatsApp data from Rhea Chakraborty’s phone and had come across some information that showed she was in touch with some people, including talent manager Jaya Saha and Shruti Modi, and discussed drugs.

NCB had on Wednesday issued summons to actors Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Shraddha Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh, asking them to join the investigation. Padukone, Khan and Singh, who were out of the city, returned home on Thursday.

Deputy director of NCB, K P S Malhotra, said that Singh, who was called on Thursday, will now be questioned on Friday. Padukone, who was supposed to join the investigation on Friday, has acknowledged the summons, and would be joining the probe on Saturday, he said.

Khan and Kapoor, too, have been called on Saturday. Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash, who is also working with KWAN talent management company, will be joining the investigation on Friday, Malhotra said.

The agency questioned Rajput’s talent manager Jaya Saha for the third consecutive day and chief executive officer of KWAN, Dhruv Chitgopekar, for the second day on Thursday. Film producer Madhu Mantena was also questioned on Wednesday.

An NCB official said Padukone’s name had figured in a number of WhatsApp chats found during the agency’s investigation. So far, NCB has arrested 19 people, including Chakraborty, her brother Showik, Rajput’s manager Samuel Miranda and members of Rajput’s domestic staff.

Showik was arrested by the NCB on September 4. He is currently lodged in Taloja jail under judicial custody till October 6.

In its application seeking permission to question Showik inside Taloja jail, the NCB said that Showik disclosed names of a few high-profile individuals involved in drug transactions. “His mobile disclosed his deep involvement in the drug dealings. The call details reveal that he had long chats and conversations with high-profile individuals. This aspect needs to be investigated further to ascertain the depth of his involvement in the crime,” the NCB said.

Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh returned from Goa late on Thursday