In a recent turn of events, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has registered an FIR in Sushant Singh Rajput death case, just a day after it received a notification from the Central government to probe into the death of the late actor. The investigating agency has further stated that it was in contact with the Bihar police, which had initially registered an FIR on the complaint made by Sushant’s father, for abetment of suicide against Rhea Chakraborty (Sushant’s girlfriend).
The suspected offenses of the FIR are various sections of Indian Penal code including criminal conspiracy, abetment of suicide, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, criminal breach of trust, criminal intimidation and cheating. The parties to the FIR are Rhea Chakraborty, her parents – Indrajit Chakraborty and Sandhya Chakraborty and her brother – Showik Chakraborty, Sushant’s house manager – Samuel Miranda, Shruti Modi, and others. The present FIR is based on the previous FIR filed by the Bihar Police in Patna, on a complaint by the late actor’s father K.K Singh.
The CBI FIR reads as “The investigation of FIR No. 241/2020 dated 25/07/2020 registered u/s. 314,342,380,406,420,306,506, 120B IPC, PS – Rajiv Nagar, District- Patna; related to the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has been transferred to CBI for investigation.” Further, the FIR reads as – “ a regular case is therefore registered under sections 341, 342, 406, 420, 306, 506, and 120B IPC, against Rhea Chakraborty, her father (Sh. Indrajit Chakraborty), her mother (Smt. Sandhya Chakraborty), her brother (Sh. Showik Chakraborty), Sh. Samuel Miranda and Smt. Shruti Modi and others.”
The CBI officials further added that, CBI’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), will probe the case. The team is currently working on Agusta Westland scam and bank fraud case against Vijay Mallya.
This development in the case has taken place amidst strong opposition by the Maharashtra government, over handing over the case to CBI, contesting that it was done for political reasons including the upcoming assembly polls in Bihar. It was further contended that Maharashtra has raised jurisdiction issues stating that Bihar Government had no locus standi in the case, since the death took place in Mumbai and not in Patna.
The case was transferred to CBI after Sushant’ father and Bihar police alleged Mumbai police of lacunae in investigation and trying to cover-up the “influential” people. Mumbai police stands accused of destruction of evidence and ignorance as to leads in the case, attempting to derail the case and has not performed their duty diligently.
However, Mumbai police and Maharashtra government has denied the said allegations vehemently.
It was further found out that, Mumbai police were following the case of Sushant’s death, scrutinizing the circumstances since his body was found at his Bandra flat on 14th June 2020; but surprisingly, no FIR was registered in the case.
Actor Sushant’s death has been cloaked in several conspiracy theories; some treating Sushant of being a victim of nepotism in Bollywood. Other theories include role of his girlfriend and live-in partner Rhea, who is accused of abetting Sushant to commit suicide by harassing him and diverting his finances.
Rhea will remain to be the focal point of CBI’s case, since the agency has taken over the case that was registered in Bihar. She is summoned by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday 7 August 2020 for questions relating to alleged financial misconduct in Sushant’s case.
This news has been written and submitted by Ms. Mansi Batra during her course of internship at B&B Associates LLP. Ms. Mansi is a third-year law student at the Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology, Kapashera, New Delhi.
