Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recommended a CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput on Tuesday, shortly after the actor’s father pressed for it in a phone call. “Since the family has given its consent, we are recommending a CBI probe on the FIR which was lodged in Bihar,” Nitish Kumar told NDTV. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had earlier ruled out a CBI investigation alongside the Mumbai police probe into the actor’s death on June 14.
Here are the top updates on Sushant Singh Rajput case:
The actor’s father KK Singh was the latest to voice the demand for a CBI probe, a day after he accused the Mumbai Police of not reacting when he talked about a threat to his son’s life months ago. In a video shared by news agency ANI yesterday, KK Singh said: “On February 25, I informed Bandra Police the life of my son was in danger. He died on June 14 and I asked them to act against people in my complaint. No action was taken even 40 days later.”
Nitish Kumar’s move comes a day before the Supreme Court hears the petition of Sushant Singh Rajput’s friend Rhea Chakraborty challenging the Bihar police’s role in the investigations and asking for the transfer of the FIR filed in Patna by the actor’s family to Mumbai.
“There can’t be any transfer of a case to the CBI when Bihar had no legal basis to get involved. Bihar has no jurisdiction, so its recommendation for a CBI probe has no legal sanctity,” said Satish Maneshinde, Rhea Chakraborty’s lawyer.
Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, a rising star of Hindi films, was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on June 14. The Mumbai Police said it was suicide and has been inquiring into allegations that the actor was suffering from depression and had felt sidelined because of cut-throat rivalries in the film industry.
The Bihar police launched a parallel probe after the actor’s family filed a complaint against Rhea Chakraborty, accusing her of transferring money from his account and mentally harassing him. The complaint alleged that Rs 15 crore was missing from Sushant Singh’s account. The Mumbai police says it has found no evidence of any financial wrongdoing by Rhea Chakraborty.
The turf war between the Patna and Mumbai police intensified after a Bihar officer who arrived in Mumbai on Sunday was forced to quarantine.
On Monday, the Mumbai police said the actor was under treatment for bipolar disorder and was taking medication. The Mumbai Police chief also confirmed that in his last few days, Sushant Singh had googled “painless death” and Disha Salian – his former manager who died after a fall from a high-rise on June 8. Hours before he was found dead, the actor had also googled his name.
The case has taken a political turn in Bihar with the opposition and ruling allies both demanding a CBI probe and Nitish Kumar facing criticism for not taking proactive steps earlier. Today’s move, critics say, indicates the Chief Minister’s belated realization that the case could cast a shadow on the Bihar polls due later this year.
Chirag Paswan, whose Lok Janshakti Party is Nitish Kumar’s ally in Bihar’s ruling coalition, also spoke to the Chief Minister in the morning. Mr Paswan has been vocal in his criticism of what he called Nitish Kumar’s inaction in the case involving a “bright, talented son of Bihar” like Sushant Singh Rajput. He had earlier even spoken to Uddhav Thackeray, and questioned why Nitish Kumar couldn’t touch base with his Maharashtra counterpart on the investigations.
In the Bihar assembly yesterday, a BJP MLA Neeraj Bablu – Sushant Singh’s cousin – demanded a CBI inquiry alleging that his death was “murder”. Opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav backed it. Neeraj Bablu’s wife Nutan Singh is a member of Chirag Paswan’s party. Sources said she had urged the Chief Minister to call for a CBI inquiry before the Supreme Court hears Rhea Chakraborty’s petition tomorrow to transfer the Bihar case to Mumbai.
