On Wednesday the Supreme Court was informed by the Central Government that into the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, the Bihar Government’s recommendation for a CBI probe has been accepted.
A stay in the Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty’s plea seeking transfer of an FIR filed against her from Patna to Mumbai and the stay on the investigation by the Bihar police on the allegations of Sushant Singh Rajput’s father that she abetted suicide of his actor son has been refused by a bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy.
The bench granted 3 days to all parties to file a reply and sought an update from the State of Maharashtra on the Investigation done by the Mumbai Police.
“Serious allegations have been leveled against Petitioner. She has applied for the transfer of proceedings from Patna to Mumbai. Bihar has entrusted it to CBI. SG Mehta submits that Centre has accepted the CBI probe request. Rajput was a talented artist who passed away under unusual circumstances. Now whether there is criminality involved needs to be investigated…now everyone has an opinion about high profile cases but we will proceed as per law.”
The bench’s response in the Sushant Singh Rajput’s case
Representations in the Sushant Singh Rajput Case
Rhea Chakraborthy was represented by Senior Advocate Shyam Divan who submitted that an Application under S. 406 had been filed as they sought to transfer the FIR registered in Bihar, along with protection against coercive actions against Petitioner.
The family of Sushant Singh was represented by Sr. Adv. Vikas Singh who opposed the plea for stay of the investigation.
“As per S. 174 of CrPC, only Bihar Police has the authority to investigate here, and not Mumbai as no cognizance cases have been registered in Maharashtra. How is it that the entire Bollywood film industry is being called for questioning by the Mumbai, but the person who lowered body from the ceiling has been allowed to go to Hyderabad?”
The lawyer’s statement
The Mumbai Police was criticised by the bench for putting Bihar police officer in quarantine, saying “it did not send the right signal”.
Rhea’s Explanations in the Sushant Singh Rajput Case
The FIR filed by the Late Actor’s father alleged abetment to suicide charges against Chakraborty in Patna has been expressed as an act of “connivance” between the State of Bihar and the father by Rhea in her plea.
She sought the stay on the probe by Bihar Police on the FIR lodged by Rajput’s father till disposal of her plea in the top court on all proceedings from the jurisdiction of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Patna Sadar to the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bandra, Mumbai.
She also alleged that she was in a live-in relationship till June 8 with Sushant and after which she left his home to shift to her own residence in Mumbai and claimed that the Late actor was suffering from depression.
“Deceased was suffering from depression from some time and was also on anti-depressants and he committed suicide on the morning of June 14 at his Bandra residence by hanging himself.”
Excerpt of Plea
Background of the Sushant Singh Rajput Case
Rajput was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then the Mumbai police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles. He was of 34 years.
Rajput’s father on July 25 had lodged a complaint at the Rajeev Nagar Police Station in Patna against Chakraborty and five others. On the same day, the police lodged an FIR for an investigation into offences allegedly committed under Sections 341, 342, 380, 406, 420, 306, 506, and 120(B) of the Indian Penal Code.
The case where Bollywood’s big producers and directors like Mahesh Bhatt, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Aditya Chopra and others were questioned by Mumbai police to know the reasons behind the untimely demise of the 34-year-old actor when suddenly Rajput’s father lodged the FIR against his rumoured actor girlfriend Rhea and six other.
Four days after Rajput’s father K K Singh lodged an FIR at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna against Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, accusing them of abetting the actor’s suicide, The actress moved to SC.
The move of Rhea to rush to the top court assumes significance in view of the fact that a four-member probe team of Bihar police is already in Mumbai and may seek to interrogate the actress as the FIR lodged at Patna by Rajput’s father, K K Singh, contained allegations of severe criminal offences such as abetment of suicide and criminal breach of trust under the IPC.
Maneshinde said that Chakraborty in her plea has also sought stay on probe by Bihar Police on the FIR lodged by Rajput’s father till disposal of her plea in top court.
With the Mumbai police, Rhea Chakraborty had also recorded her statement.
Charges Levied on Rhea
On July 25, the father of the deceased lodged the FIR under various sections of IPC including 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).
A CBI probe into his death has been demanded by several political leaders and film personalities.
A debate on alleged nepotism and favouritism in the Hindi film industry was triggered by Rajput’s suspected death by suicide.
The Patna-born actor was allegedly boycotted by several top production houses which caused distress and compelled him to end his life.
