Ananya Pandey throws dad’s punchline at NCB

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Friday questioned actor Ananya Pandey for more than four hours over the alleged drug chats with Aryan Khan on WhatsApp. She has been called again on Monday. "There are certain things [in the chats] that she is not able to explain and further questioning is required," an NCB officer said. According to sources, the chats show she and Aryan discussed a certain drug, and when questioned, she said, "I was just joking."

According to sources, the NCB is questioning Ananya about one specific drug, about which Ananya and Aryan had allegedly talked about in WhatsApp chats. She told the investigating officers that she has never consumed any kind of drug, and I was just joking with Aryan in the chats. However, the officers were not convinced, and hence have called her again for further clarity, sources said.

Actor Ananya Pandey on her way to the city office of the Narcotics Control Bureau at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai, on Friday. She was again accompanied by her father Chunky Pandey. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Sources said that the two talked about the specific drug on various occasions and in one chat, they even discussed procurement.

Ananya was first quizzed on Thursday for more than two hours and was called again on Friday at 11 am. Accompanied by her father, actor Chunky Pandey, Ananya arrived at the NCB office at Ballard Estate in south Mumbai at 2.30pm, as the agency had postponed the questioning by a few hours. They left around 6.30 pm.

"She has been called again on Monday for further questioning," said Mutha Ashok Jain, Deputy Director General, South West Region, NCB.

Sources said the agency has found certain WhatsApp chats that are incriminating and that they require a deep analysis. Her electronic gadgets have been sent to the forensics for the retrieval of chats, if anything was deleted, said officers. The NCB, with the help of cyber experts, got some details of the chats and she was questioned about that.

When asked about the possibility of her arrest, officers refused to comment.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court will on Tuesday hear Aryan's bail plea, along with that of co-accused Arbaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha. The NCB plans to oppose the pleas on the basis of the investigation it has done so far. The agency is going to submit a detailed report on their investigation to the HC.