 | « Back to article | Print this article |
The Supreme Court said the truth behind Sushant Singh Rajput's death should come out even as the Centre informed the apex court that it has accepted the Bihar government's recommendation for a CBI probe in the matter.
Justice Hrishikesh Roy directed Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajput's father Krishna Kishore Singh to file their replies within three days on a plea by actress Rhea Chakraborty, who is seeking the transfer of an FIR, accusing her of abetting Rajput's suicide, from Patna to Mumbai.
The apex court, which posted the matter for hearing next week, also directed the Mumbai police to place before it the status report of the probe conducted so far in Rajput's death case.
Rajput was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in Bandra, north west Mumbai, on June 14. The Mumbai police has been probing the case keeping in mind various angles.
At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the court that the Bihar government's recommendation has been accepted and the case has been transferred to the CBI.
"Let the Maharashtra government respond to the plea of Rhea Chakraborty and so far as the death of the artist is concerned, that truth should come out," Justice Roy said during the hearing conducted through video-conferencing.
"A gifted and talented artist has passed away in this case," the judge observed, adding that the fundamental issue raised before it is the jurisdiction as to which police would probe it.
During the hearing, senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Rajput's father K K Singh, said he has no difficulty if the apex court examines the case but no protective order should be passed in Chakraborty's favour.
Singh alleged that the Maharashtra police is 'destroying the evidence' in the case and for the time being, it should be directed to cooperate with the Bihar police in the ongoing probe.
Senior advocate R Basant, appearing for Maharashtra, told the bench that the Patna police has no jurisdiction to either lodge an FIR or investigate the matter and this has been made a 'political case'.
"The incident of quarantining a police officer (of Bihar) has not sent a good message," the judge observed, adding that the Mumbai police has a "good professional reputation".
"Kindly ensure that everything is done in accordance with law," the judge said.
The Maharashtra government told the judge, "We are doing quite a professional job and it is inappropriate that the Mumbai police is being accused like this."
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for Chakraborty, told the judge that no coercive action be taken against her till the pendency of the matter.
"We want all parties to hold their hands. Lawyers are here and I am sure they have all heard you," the judge observed.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had recommended CBI probe to the Centre in the case at the request of Rajput's father.
Maharashtra has been opposed to transferring the probe to the CBI.
Rhea, who had once tweeted to the Union home minister seeking a CBI probe into the matter, opposed the Bihar government's move through her lawyer Satish Maneshinde by saying that the decision has 'no legal sanctit'".
On July 25, Rajput's father had lodged an FIR at the Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna against Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, accusing them of abetting the actor's suicide.
In her plea filed in the apex court, Chakraborty has alleged that Rajput's father has used his 'influence' in roping her in the FIR lodged at Patna, accusing her of abetment of his son's suicide.
The actress said in her plea that she was in a live-in relationship with Rajput and has been in deep trauma after his death and was getting rape and death threats.
'It is pertinent to mention that the deceased and petitioner were in a live-in relationship since a year up till June 8, 2020 when the petitioner temporarily shifted to her own residence in Mumbai,' Rhea said in her plea.
'Deceased (Rajput) was suffering from depression for some time and was also on anti-depressants and he committed suicide on the morning of June 14, 2020 at his Bandra residence by hanging himself,' she added in her plea.
She has said in her plea that it becomes abundantly clear that the commencement of investigation in Patna is erroneous in absence of any cause of action having arisen at Patna.
The entire cause of action as alleged in the FIR had arisen at Bandra in Mumbai, her plea has said.
