Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide on June 14. (Photo: Sushant Singh Rajput/Facebook)
The investigation into late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death has seen several twists and turns. From the angle of professional rivalry to blind items, Mumbai police delved into many aspects before the Central Bureau of Investigation took over the case last week, following demand for the same by Sushant’s family.
“CBI has today registered a case related to the death of Sh Sushant Singh Rajput on the request of Bihar Govt and further notification from Govt of India and taken over the investigation of the case, earlier registered at police station Rajiv Nagar, Patna vide FIR no.241/2020 dated 25-7-2020. The case was registered against 6 accused and others,” read CBI’s statement.
The CBI has registered a case against Sushant Singh Rajput’s former partner-actor Rhea Chakraborty and others.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s father KK Singh lodged an FIR with Patna police last month against Rhea and five people, including three of her family members, for abetment of suicide.
The FIR filed by Patna police invokes IPC Sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust) 506 (criminal intimidation),120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating).
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also summoned Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the money laundering case based on the FIR.
In the FIR, Sushant’s father also said, “My son was at the peak of his acting career till May 2019. During that period, Rhea and her relatives developed an acquaintance with my son, under a deliberate conspiracy, so that Rhea could establish herself in the film industry and with an eye on Sushant’s wealth… He was later made to rent a house that was haunted, and that had an impact on my son.”
The Enforcement Directorrate is understood to have questioned Rhea Chakraborty about her friendship with Sushant Singh Rajput, business dealings and the developments that took place over the last few years between them, according to a PTI report.
According to the officials, the ED's line of questioning revolves around Rhea's income, investments, business and professional deals, and links. Also under the ED's scanner is a property located in the city's Khar area and another in Navi Mumbai, both linked to Rhea, for the source of purchase and ownership.
Agency sources told PTI they 'want more answers' from Rhea over the alleged mismatch between her income, expenditure and investments.
They said while Rhea has filed Income Tax Returns stating an income of about Rs 14-18 lakh, the value of her investments is reportedly higher. Her father, they said, is a retired defence personnel who gets a pension of about Rs 1 lakh per month. The sources said Rhea told the agency that she had made the property investments from her income, savings and has taken bank loans.
Sushant Singh Rajput's friend and flatmate Siddharth Pithani has arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office hours after Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik Chakraborty were seen at the office.
Rhea Chakraborty on Monday arrived at the Enforcement Directorate office for the second round of questioning in the money laundering case. She was seen outside the ED office with brother, Showik Chakraborty, Rhea and Showik first appeared for their office on Friday after the ED rejected her request to postpone the questioning till the Supreme Court heard her petition, seeking transfer of the case lodged by Bihar police to Mumbai.
“In view of the fact that the ED has informed the media that the request to postpone her attendance is rejected, Rhea has appeared before the ED office,” her advocate Satish Maneshinde said, adding that she is a law-abiding citizen and would cooperate with the probe.