The nefarious attempts of Maharashtra government in cohoots with accused Rhea Chakraborty to “close” Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case as suicide has come crashing down after the Supreme Court upheld CBI probe as lawful.
Justice Hrishikesh Joy dismissed Rhea’s plea seeking transfer of case lodged against her from Patna to Mumbai on several grounds including the denial of rights to the accused to choose an investigating agency of her choice.
“Transfer of investigation to the CBI cannot be a routine occurrence, but should be in exceptional circumstances. One factor which however is considered relevant for induction of the central agency is to retain public confidence in the impartial working of the state agencies … It is also the consistent view of the court that it is not for the accused to choose the investigating agency,” Justice Hrishikesh Roy said in his 35-page verdict.
Probably, this could have been one of the kinds of plea where the accused in cahoots with the state government had sought for the investigation agency of her choice even as the name of Aaditya Thackeray was constantly cropping up in the case.
Justice Roy also upheld the CBI probe as Rhea herself had no objection for the same. “The petitioner (Rhea) has no objection for investigation by the CBI, but is skeptical about the bonafide of the steps taken by Bihar government and Patna police,” he said.
Earlier, Rhea had asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah to launch a CBI probe into Sushant’s death. But, pressed for Mumbai Police to conduct the probe after Sushant’s father KK Singh lodged a FIR, accusing her for abetment of suicide, if any.
However, she agreed for a CBI-monitored probe by Mumbai Police after the public began to suspect her first move to ask for CBI probe and later push for probe by Mumbai Police.
Justice Roy directed Mumbai Police to hand over all the evidence to CBI. He rapped Mumbai Police for their attempts to obstruct Bihar Police to investigate the case as it raised suspicion on the bona fide of their inquiry.
He also directed the CBI to look into any other cases registered in the future in relation to the death of Rajput – meaning that the CBI are free to investigate Disha Salian’s death case after registering a new FIR. According to media reports, there is a link between Disha and Sushant’s death cases.
Reports allege that Disha died under mysterious circumstances and Sushant was in the know of the real cause of his ex-manager’s death, which he wanted to reveal it to the press.
Justice Roy ordered the Maharashtra government to assist the CBI in the investigation.
On July 30, Rhea had moved the court seeking transfer of the case lodged against her. She alleged the abetment to suicide charges against her is nothing, but an act of “connivance” between Bihar government and Sushant’s father.
During the hearings, both Maharashtra and Bihar governments traded charges against each other’s jurisdiction to probe the case.
They also alleged politicisation of the case ahead of Bihar assembly elections.
The Mumbai Police had submitted that Sushant family’s initial statements did not indicate any suspicion on the cause of Sushant’s death, apart from suicide.
It had also submitted that the CBI ought not have gone ahead and registered the FIR in the case.
In reply, Bihar Police had stated that Rhea’s plea was not maintainable. They averred that Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure cannot be invoked for transferring investigation from one state to another.
In her additional affidavit, Rhea had questioned the manner of the CBI to assume jurisdiction over the case and also objected to media reports sensationalizing the case.
Quite a long time lost in enquiry by Mumbai police, plus lots of evidence might have been tampered with, so that no evidence wud be available to prove it’s murder. As regards Disha Salien case, at least it’s known that her nude body was taken to hospital for post martem. Only chance is to check with those agencies with whom SSR was in touch with, reg his invention, which Aaditya Thakaray is trying to claim & introduce. dgvirendra@gmail.com