Sushant Singh Rajput family vs Rhea Chakraborty case verdict: SC allows CBI probe into SSR death
The Supreme Court ordered the CBI to take over the investigation in the Sushant Singh Rajput family vs Rhea Chakraborty case today (August 19).
The Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on the Sushant Singh Rajput family vs Rhea Chakraborty case. On Wednesday (August 19), the SC allowed the CBI to take control of the investigation. The verdict was pronounced by Justice Hrishikesh Roy under Section 406 of CrPC. The Supreme Court judgement is 35 pages long.
Any FIR in the matter from now on will also be transferred to the CBI."While according approval for the ongoing CBI investigation, if any other case is registered on the death of the actor Sushant Singh Rajput and the surrounding circumstances of his unnatural death, the CBI is directed to investigate the new case as well. It is ordered accordingly," read the judgement.
The Mumbai Police have been asked to help the CBI with their investigation. All the investigative material will be handed by the Mumbai Police to the CBI. The SC further said that the inquiry conducted under Section 174 of CrPC is not an investigation. The Maharashtra government lawyer asked for permission to challenge the verdict. However, the Judge said that it is now a court-ordered investigation.
The judgement by the SC read, "In the instant case, the petitioner repose confidence on Mumbai police. The records of the case produced before this Court, does not prima facie suggest any wrong doing by the Mumbai Police. However, their obstruction to the Bihar police team at Mumbai could have been avoided since it gave rise to suspicion on the bonafide of their inquiry. The Police at Mumbai were conducting only a limited inquiry into the cause of unnatural death, under Section 174 CrPC and therefore, it cannot be said with certainty at this stage that they will not undertake an investigation on the other aspects of the unnatural death, by registering a FIR."
The SC also said that the Bihar government was competent to ask for a CBI investigation in the case. "The Supreme Court said that the Bihar government's move to seek a CBI probe in the matter was competent. " Patna police committed no illegality in registering the Complaint. Looking at the nature of the allegations in the Complaint which also relate to misappropriation and breach of trust, the exercise of jurisdiction by the Bihar Police appears to be in order. At the stage of investigation, they were not required to transfer the FIR to Mumbai police," read the judgement.
Saying that a fair justification is the need of the hour, the judgement read, "The actor Sushant Singh Rajput was a talented actor in the Mumbai film world and died well before his full potential could be realised. His family, friends and admirers are keenly waiting the outcome of the investigation 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 expected outcome then would be, a measure of justice for the Complainant, who lost his only son. For the petitioner too, it will be the desired justice as she herself called for a CBI investigation."
Sushant Singh Rajput's family lawyer, Vikas Singh, said that this was a "historic verdict". He further said that Rhea's statement was 'just to garner sympathy'.
After the verdict, Sushant's sister, Shweta Singh Kirti took to social media to express her feelings on the verdict. She wrote, "Here we go!! Finally!! CBI for SSR!! #CBITakesOver."
Sushant's cousin also reacted to the verdict. He said, "We thank everyone for support this will nail the case."
Ankita Lokhande, who had been demanding a CBI probe in the matter, took to Instagram to hail SC's verdict. She wrote, "Justice is the truth in action. Truth wins .... #1ststeptossrjustice.
Several Bollywood celebrities hailed the SC verdict on social media.
This is the fourth hearing in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. In the first hearing on August 5, the Centre had told SC that they have accepted the recommendation of the Bihar government to transfer the case to the CBI.
On July 25, Sushant Singh Rajput’s father, KK Singh, filed a complaint against Rhea Chakraborty, her family, Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi at Rajiv Nagar Police Station in Patna. On the basis of the complaint, an FIR was registered by the Patna police and they began investigating. The Mumbai Police, on the other hand, had filed an Accidental Death Report on June 14 and were already investigating the case. After the FIR against her, Rhea moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the case’s jurisdiction to Mumbai.
In her petition, Rhea also denied the allegations levelled against her by Sushant Singh Rajput’s family. She also revealed that she was in a live-in relationship with the actor and was “in a state of trauma from the incident".
The second hearing of the case was held on August 11. All five parties - Sushant Singh Rajput's family, Rhea Chakraborty, Bihar government, Maharashtra government and the CBI were asked to submit a brief report by August 13. The SC reserved its verdict on Rhea Chakraborty's plea seeking the transfer of investigation to Mumbai.
The third hearing of the case took place on August 13 where all parties filed their final written submissions to the SC. The Bihar government requested the SC to dismiss Rhea’s plea, calling it ‘ineffective’ since only they have registered an FIR in the case and have transferred the investigation to CBI.
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