Indian Supreme Court orders CBI probe into Sushant Singh Rajput case

The Indian Supreme Court today ordered CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

The apex court was hearing the row over the complaint filed by Sushant Singh's father in Bihar against actor Rhea Chakraborty who had asked the court to transfer the FIR from Patna to Mumbai.

The Supreme Court, pronouncing its verdict, observed that the FIR registered at Patna was correct and added that Maharashtra refused the option to challenge the order. It added that the Bihar government is competent to request CBI for probe into the sensational case.

The court further directed the Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence collected so far in the case to CBI.

Vikas Singh, lawyer of Sushant's father KK Singh, has termed the verdict as a "victory for the late actor's family" adding that the court ruled on all points in their favour.

Singh further told news agency ANI that the top court said that any other FIR registered in connection with the actor's death will also be investigated by the CBI.

"We hope that we should get justice very soon. The family is very happy with the verdict," Vikas Singh said.

Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey also expressed his happiness over the order and told reporters that the Supreme Court's verdict has "strengthened the trust people have in the Court and has assured the nation that justice will be delivered in Sushant Singh Rajput death case."

"Today's verdict has proved that Bihar Police was correct. The way Mumbai Police behaved was illegal," he added.

Bihar BJP MLA and a relative of the late actor, Niraj Singh Babloo also thanked the top court for delivering the verdict that is seen as a major step towards delivering justice to the family.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the state government will decide the way forward after the Supreme Court verdict.

Actress Rhea Chakraborty, the main accused in Sushant Singh Rajput death case, had told the top court last Thursday that the Patna FIR of July 25, could at best be regarded as a Zero FIR and transferred to the Mumbai Police.

In her written submission before the top court, Rhea also insisted that Rajput's father has made baseless allegations against her.

On August 11, the apex court had reserved its order on the plea of Rhea seeking transfer of the case registered in Patna to Mumbai and asked all the concerned parties to file their written submissions.

The case was filed by the late actor's father KK Singh accusing Rhea, her family and several others for abetment to suicide.

Rhea, in her submission, had contended that the investigations in Bihar are "totally illegal and such illegal proceedings cannot be transferred to the CBI in the present manner by way of illegal executive orders".

She argued that transfer of investigation to CBI at the behest of Bihar Police is wholly without jurisdiction.

Earlier on August 7, the Nitish Kumar government had told the Supreme Court that the transfer petition filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case is "misconceived and not maintainable".

The Bihar Police had filed an FIR against Chakraborty on a complaint by Sushant Singh's father, alleging that she illegally transferred Rs 15 crore from the actor's Mumbai bank account and mentally harassed him.

On August 6, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case against six persons, including Rhea Chakraborty and her family members, on the basis of the FIR filed by Bihar Police on his family's complaint.

The top court had on August 5 observed that it is unfortunate that a gifted artist like Sushant Singh Rajput passed away under unusual circumstances and the truth in the matter should come out.

Copyright: The Statesman/ Asia News Network