Sushant Singh Rajput death: Supreme Court gives nod to CBI investigation, dismisses Rhea's plea

The Supreme Court has pronounced its verdict on a plea filed by model-turned-actress Rhea Chakraborty seeking transfer of the probe from Bihar to Mumbai. In a massive victory for Rajput's family, the apex court has given a nod to the CBI investigation according to Times Now. The judge Hrishikesh Roy has dismissed Rhea's plea.

The Supreme Court has directed the Mumbai Police to handover all the evidence it collected to the CBI.



Here are the key points made by the Supreme Court in its 35-page-long verdict:

• Sushant Singh Rajput was a talented actor and died before his full potential could be realised.
• Sushant Singh Rajput's family and admirers are waiting for the outcome of the probe so that all the speculations floating around can be put to rest. Therefore, a fair, competent and impartial investigation is the need of the hour.
• The outcome of the probe would be a measure of justice for the complainant (Sushant's father), who lost his only son.
• For the petitioner (Rhea Chakraborty), too, it will be the desired justice as she herself called for a CBI investigation.
• When both states (Bihar, Maharashtra) make acrimonious allegations of political interference against each other, the legitimacy of the probe comes under a cloud. An unbiased probe will result in justice for the innocents who are targets of vilification campaign.
• When truth meets sunshine, justice will not prevail on the living alone but after Life's fitful fever, now the departed will also sleep well. Satyameva Jayate.

The apex court said that Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.

A bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy said that FIR registered by the Bihar Police on the complaint of Rajput's father Krishna Kishore Singh is correct and the reference to the CBI is lawful.

While pronouncing the verdict, the bench said that if any other case is registered regarding Rajput's death, the same shall be probed by the CBI only.

It said that jurisdiction of Mumbai Police, which is conducting probe under section 174 of the CrPC which deals with procedure to be followed in cases of unnatural death and suicide, is limited.

The apex court held that the ongoing investigation done by the CBI is lawful.

Last week, during the SC hearing on August 11, Rhea's counsel, Rajput's counsel, Maharashtra government, Bihar government and the Centre had presented their arguments before the judge. The SC reserved its verdict and asked all the parties to file their written submissions on August 13.

Also Read: Sushant S Rajput's dad quizzed by ED on actor's income, investment; Rhea claims she has never met Aaditya Thackeray

The late Bollywood actor’s father KK Singh had filed a case with the Patna Police in which he accused Rhea of abetting his son’s suicide, keeping him in wrongful confinement, and defrauding him of crores of rupees.

The Bihar Police had booked Rhea and five others under IPC Section 306 (Abetment of suicide), Sec 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), Sec 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement), Sec 380 (Theft in dwelling house), Sec 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust), and Sec 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

Also Read: CBI probe in Sushant death: Ankita Lokhande hails SC decision, actor's sister Shweta calls it 'first step' towards truth

On August 10, Chakraborty had approached the Supreme Court and filed another plea against what she called an 'unfair media trial'. In her affidavit, Chakraborty had alleged that the media had 'blown out of proportions', the investigation into Rajput's death.

The SC is yet to hear Chakraborty's second plea.