After more than four years of speculation and investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially closed its probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, confirming there was no foul play involved. The investigation, which began in 2020 following the actor's mysterious death, has cleared actress Rhea Chakraborty and her family of all allegations made by Rajput's family, confirming that the actor had taken his own life.

Sushant Singh Rajput, who was 34 at the time of demise, was found hanging from the ceiling of his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14, 2020. His death gave rise to a flurry of conspiracy theories, including claims that the actor had fallen victim to Bollywood's nepotistic culture, which allegedly marginalises outsiders and drives them to extreme measures.

According to sources familiar with the case, the CBI's comprehensive investigation involved forensic analysis, technical data from the United States, and consultations with multiple medical experts. "After an extensive investigation, which included forensic evidence, technical data, and numerous medical opinions, no foul play was detected in the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. As a result, we have filed closure reports in two related cases before a special Mumbai court," said a senior officer, who wished to remain anonymous.

The investigation primarily revolved around two cases. The first was filed by Rajput's father, K K Singh, in Bihar, accusing actress Rhea Chakraborty and her family of driving his son to suicide and embezzling Rs 15 crore from him. The second case, filed by Chakraborty in September 2020, accused Rajput's sister, Priyanka Singh, and a doctor from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML Hospital) of illegally providing psychiatric drugs to the actor using a forged prescription.

"We found no evidence of any conspiracy in either case," the officer confirmed. 

Prior to the CBI's involvement, the Mumbai police had conducted their investigation and similarly found no signs of foul play. However, following K K Singh's complaint, the central government transferred the case to the CBI, who re-registered the case and named Chakraborty and her family as the accused.

To further investigate the matter, the CBI formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT), tasked with exploring all possible angles, including allegations of suicide abetment by Chakraborty and whether professional pressure had driven Rajput to end his life.

The agency also consulted a medical board from AIIMS Delhi, which examined the post-mortem and viscera reports. In September 2020, the board concluded that Rajput's death was a suicide caused by asphyxia due to hanging. There were no signs of injury or struggle, and the actor's clothing remained undisturbed.

In 2021, the CBI sought assistance from Google and Facebook, requesting access to Rajput's deleted messages, emails, and posts to analyse the days leading up to his death. However, no suspicious activity was uncovered in the data provided.

Over the course of the investigation, dozens of individuals were questioned, including Rajput's close friends, staff, doctors, and actress Chakraborty. Several figures from the film industry were also interviewed. Despite utilising advanced forensic tools and travelling to multiple cities such as Mumbai, Patna, Aligarh, and Hyderabad, no evidence was found to support the claims of foul play.

In December 2020, the CBI issued a statement confirming their use of the latest scientific methods to analyse mobile data and cell tower information, ensuring a thorough investigation.

At the time of writing, Rajput's family lawyer, senior advocate Vikas Singh, has yet to comment on the CBI's closure report.

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