New Delhi: A psychiatrist, who is said to have “treated” Sushant Singh Rajput, has said in his statement to the police that there was “evidence” of the actor battling “severe anxiety, depression and existential crisis”, ThePrint has learnt.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing the Rajput’s death is now looking into the psychiatrist’s statement, which was initially given to the Mumbai Police, investigation sources said.
In his statement, according to the sources, the doctor said he was approached several times — first by Rajput’s manager Shruti Modi and then by his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty — for “treating him”.
‘Dire need for treatment’
According to the doctor’s statement, Rajput was also admitted to hospital for treatment and prescribed antidepressant and sleeping pills such as Quinton, Erizolam, Melatonin, along with other medicines.
“On 25 November 2019, Shruti Modi called him and asked for a checkup for Rajput. On 27 November again, Shruti asked for an appointment and said that he was in ‘dire need for treatment’,” a source said.
On 28 November, around 9 am, the doctor visited Rajput.
The doctor said in his statement Rajput told him he was not getting enough sleep, and had no appetite. He also said he didn’t “like anything in life now”, and that he didn’t “wish to live”, and was “afraid all the time”, according to the statement.
The doctor added that the actor was suffering from “depression and anxiety”.
According to the statement, when the doctor asked Rajput if he had suicidal thoughts, Singh said “no”.
The CBI is probing the case on the basis of an FIR registered by the Bihar Police, which named Chakraborty, her brother Showik and parents, apart from others, for alleged abetment of suicide and other suspected offences.
ThePrint reached Rajput family’s lawyer Vikas Singh for a comment on the doctor’s statement, but there was no response till the time of publishing this report.
‘Stopped taking medicines’
The doctor said in his statement Rajput stopped taking the prescribed medicines without consultation.
The doctor said Rajput had started recovering and looking forward to work, but had his days when he kept very low.
According to the doctor’s statement, on 30 December 2019, Chakraborty messaged him saying Rajput was unwell, and that he was feeling low and had been sleeping all day.
On 19 January this year, Chakraborty messaged the doctor saying Rajput was in depression and should be admitted. But the actor did not want to get admitted.
According to the statement, Rajput stopped the medicines despite the doctor saying it can aggravate his conditions.
The doctor also said in the statement that Rajput was advised earlier this year to take the medicine for another 8 to 9 months, but he “did not respond”.
On 6 March, the doctor told the police, Chakraborty messaged him again to say Rajput was depressed and feeling “low”.
The doctor added that when he tried to convince Rajput to take his medicines, he “laughed it off”.
The doctor also said in his statement he sent several prescriptions to Chakraborty’s phone over WhatsApp for medicines.
The investigators are looking into those chats, the sources said.
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