CBI still probing Sushant Singh Rajput's death; advanced forensic equipment used to analyse cell tower data

NEW DELHI: In response to BJP Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confirmed on Wednesday that it is still carrying out an intensive probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Swamy had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 30, enquiring about the status of the investigation conducted by CBI, the National Investigative Agency (NIA), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the late actor's unnatural dead at his Mumbai's Bandra apartment on June 14.

In a detailed reply dated December 30, Nupur Prasad, Superintendent of Police, CBI said that they are using advanced mobile forensic equipment to analyse the dump data of the relevant cell tower locations related to the case. "The CBI is conducting investigation in a thorough and professional manner using latest scientific techniques. During investigation, all aspects are being looked at and no aspect has been ruled out as of date," the reply read.


Prasad wrote that a team of experienced investigating officers was constituted for looking into the circumstances relating to unnatural death of Rajput. "The investigating team along with senior officers visited all places of concern viz. Aligarh, Faridabad, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Manesar (Gurgaon) and Patna. The investigating team and senior officers had visited the place of the incident on numerous occasions for better understanding of the circumstances related to the incident. The Experts of Central Forensic Science Laboratory, CBI, New Delhi, considered to be the best in their fields in India, also visited and examined the place of incident. The experts also carried out the simulation exercise," the CBI said in its letter.

Forensic medicine experts also visited the place of incident, and the mortuary of Cooper Hospital during night and also discussed the case with autopsy surgeons to understand the procedure of post-mortem adopted by them, she said. The CBI officer further said that during investigation, all the concerned witnesses have been examined to understand the circumstances, apprehensions raised by the complainant and his family members and other independent sources.

"Mortuary of Cooper Hospital during night and also discussed the case with Autopsy Surgeons to understand the procedure of postmortem adopted by them. During the investigation, all the concerned witnesses have been examined to understand the circumstances, apprehensions raised by the complainant and his family members and other independent sources. An intensive and thorough investigation has been carried out in this regard," it read.

The agency said that all the concerned witnesses in the case have been examined. It has named Sushant's former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, her father Indrajit Chakraborty, mother Sandhya Chakraborty, brother Showik Chakraborty, Sushant's former house manager Samuel Miranda, his former manager Shruti Modi and others in the case. The CBI has also recorded the statements of the family members of Sushant, including his father, and sisters Rani Singh, and Mitu Singh.

The letter said that the CBI team visited Mumbai on August 20, a day after the Supreme Court gave a nod for the federal agency probe. On August 19, the Supreme Court had transferred the investigation from Patna Police to CBI.

The CBI had registered a case on August 6 this year after a notification from the Centre on the recommendations of the Bihar government. The case was based on the complaint of Rajput's father K. K. Singh to Bihar Police dated July 25 against Rhea Chakraborty, Indrajit Chakraborty, Sandhya Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi. The FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code sections of 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 & dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

Besides the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) also registered separate cases of money laundering and drugs related case, respectively.

The NCB arrested Showik on September 4 and Rhea on September 7. Rhea was granted bail on October 4 while her brother was granted bail almost three months after his arrest.