Sushant Singh Rajput death case: FIR filed against Rhea Chakraborty

In a sudden and surprising development, family of Sushant Singh Rajput lodged anFIR against the actor’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members on Tuesday.

Sushant (34), who had acted in films like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Shuddh Desi Romance, PK, Detective Byomkesh Bakshi, Raabta, Kedarnath, Sonchiriya, Chhichore, died by suicide on June 14.

His body was found in his rented duplex flat at Bandra, one of the upmarket locations in Mumbai.

Rajput’s father KK Singh filed the FIR against Rhea and six others in Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna for abetment to suicide.

“An FIR registered against actor Rhea Chakraborty under various sections, including abetment of suicide, on the complaint of Sushant Singh Rajput's father,” Patna Central Zone’s Inspector General Sanjay Singh was quoted saying.

Hours after the FIR, a four-member team of Bihar police, landed in Mumbai and met senior officials.

There has been a demand to hand over the case from the Bandra police station in Mumbai to the CBI.

According to his post-mortem report, the cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. Foul play was ruled out – but what exactly has compelled the actor to die by suicide is yet to be ascertained.

The campaign for a CBI probe is spearheaded by actor and TV presenter Shekhar Suman. Veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur had said that the actor was in pain.

Actress Kangana Ranaut too has raised suspicion over the way Sushant ended his life.

Several Bollywood celebrities have raised the nepotism and favouritism angle and alleged that he was being sidelined by some big names and production houses of the Hindi film industry.

Rhea, whose statement had been recorded by the Mumbai police, had too demanded a CBI probe. “I’m Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, it is now over a month since his sudden demise. I have complete faith in the government, however in the interest of justice, I request you with folded hands to initiate a CBI enquiry into this matter. I only want to understand what pressures prompted Sushant to take this step,” she had posted on social media tagging Home Minister Amit Shah.

During the investigation, the expenses of actress Rhea Chakraborty from the past 11 months were probed. According to reports, in 2019, Rhea travelled to Europe to shoot an advertisement and Sushant had incurred all her expenses including her travel tickets. Besides, the family has said that Rs 15 crore has been taken out from the accounts of the actor since last one year.

The case has been lodged under various sections of IPC including 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 306 (abetment of suicide).

Late in the evening, lawyers were seen going into the Mumbai residence of Rhea Chakraborty.

The family of Rajput has accused Rhea of trying to influence the life of the actor.

The Mumbai police has so far recorded the statements of over 35 persons including his househelps, friends, filmmakers, doctors and psychiatrists who were treating him.

Who is Rhea Chakraborty?

Rhea Chakraborty first came into limelight when her photos along with veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt were splashed in social media a couple of years ago.

Later she got into a relationship withactor Sushant Singh Rajput after he broke up with actress Ankita Lokhande.

In 2013, she made her Bollywood acting debut with the film Mere Dad Ki Maruti.

Rhea Chakraborty was born into a Bengali family in Bengalaru and she did her schooling from Army Public School, Ambala Cantonment.

Rhea started her television career in 2009 with MTV India's TVS Scooty Teen Diva where she was the first runner-up. Later, she has hosted several MTV shows, including Pepsi MTV Wassup, TicTac College Beat and MTV Gone in 60 Seconds.

She also did cameo appearances in Half Girlfriend and Dobaara: See Your Evil and Jalebi.