Sushant Singh Rajput case: Union minister seeks CBI probe, Congress defends Maharashtra govt

PATNA: Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s alleged suicide has become a major political issue in poll-bound Bihar with netas cutting across party lines demanding a CBI probe into the matter. On Sunday, Union minister R K Singh said investigation into the late actor’s suicide should he handed over to the CBI to end the ongoing spat between the political bosses and the police officers of Bihar and Maharashtra.
Singh, who had earlier served as Union home secretary, said, “The dispute between the Bihar police and the Maharashtra police over jurisdiction of investigation and allegations about non-cooperation will come to an end once the case is handed over to the CBI. I think it’s proper to recommend a CBI probe as the actor’s family has expressed dissatisfaction over the investigation carried out so far by the Mumbai police.”
Singh, the BJP MP from Ara in Bhojpur district, added, “The grievances Sushant’s family are genuine. The Mumbai police did precious little after the incident. They didn’t lodge any formal FIR even after interrogation of a number of suspects. Instead, they started raising a hue and cry after a Bihar police team visited Mumbai for investigation on the basis of an FIR lodged at a police station in Patna.”
Singh’s reactions came hours after Congress incharge for Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil defended the Maharashtra government, saying, “The Bihar police should focus on the investigation rather than indulging in mudslinging and accusations. I must thank the CM of Maharashtra, state Congress president Thoratji, home minister Anil Deshmukhji and others for taking a serious view of the Sushant suicide case.”
He, however, added police officers from both the states should exchange information with each other to unravel the truth.Gohil’s utterances, however, evoked sharp reaction from JD(U). “The Congress should first withdraw its support to the government in Maharashtra. The allegation against Nitish Kumar government that it was turning the issue into a political one is not only surprising but also shameful,” JD(U) spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad Singh said.