Thackeray slams demands for CBI probe in Sushant case
Mumbai: Breaking his silence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray slammed the demands for a CBI probe by the Opposition and some Bollywood personalities in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, allegedly committed suicide in his Mumbai apartment on June 14.
In a late-night statement, Thackeray said the Opposition can even bring Interpol or followers of Namaste Trump into the inquiry.
“Devendra Fadnavis should understand that it is the same police whom he has worked within the last five years. It is the same police that has given so many sacrifices during the fight with Corona,” said the CM.
“I would like to condemn those who are raising questions about the efficiency of the police. The Mumbai police is not inefficient. If anyone has any proof about the case they can bring it to us and we will interrogate and punish the guilty,” said Thackeray.
However, he appealed to all not to use this case as an excuse to create friction between the two states of Maharashtra and Bihar.
“Anyone who is bringing politics in the case is really the most deplorable thing to do,” said the CM.
Nitish can talk to PM for CBI probe into Sushant’s case: Bihar Min
On the other hand, the demand for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified as leaders cutting across all political lines especially from Bihar, Sushant’s home state have been seeking a ‘fair probe’ into the matter.
On Friday, Bihar Minister Jai Kumar Singh said that if the Maharashtra government does not recommend an investigation by the CBI into the death of Sushant, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar can talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for initiating a CBI probe into the matter.
He said that Kumar has given a green signal to the police for a thorough investigation. He claimed, “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has given a clear indication that if the Maharashtra police do not help the Bihar police in the probe, we can recommend the matter to the CBI for investigation.”
Singh further said, “Mumbai police is not cooperating with the Bihar police. We again urge the Mumbai police to cooperate with the Patna police in Sushant’s case. If this does not happen, then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will conduct a CBI inquiry into the entire matter.”
He said the Bihar government is standing with the relatives of Sushant. “Will go to any extent to bring justice to Sushant,” he added.
He said the Chief Minister can also talk to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray for a CBI inquiry into the matter, and if needed, he can also talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Significantly, after the petition filed by Rhea Chakraborty for the transfer of this case from Patna to Mumbai, the Bihar government has also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court.
Mumbai cops not cooperating with Bihar Police in Sushant case: Sushil Modi
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi joined the chorus against Mumbai police in the investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s alleged suicdie on Friday when he said on Friday that they are not cooperating with the Bihar Police in the probe related to the alleged suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Taking to Twitter, the Deputy CM said,”Mumbai police is putting an obstruction in the way of a fair investigation by the Bihar police in the Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case.”
“Bihar police is doing its best but Mumbai police is not cooperating with the team. BJP feels that the CBI should take over the case,” he added.
Sushant, 34, was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in suburban Bandra in Mumbai on June 14 and since then the police have been probing the case keeping in mind various angles.
SC likely to hear Rhea’s plea seeking probe transfer on Aug 5
The Supreme Court is likely to hear a transfer petition filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty on August 5. Rhea had moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday demanding that the case registered against her by the Bihar Police should be transferred to the Mumbai Police.
The probe is in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput being carried out by Bihar Police against Rhea on charges of abetment to suicide, theft, wrongful confinement, and cheating, based on a complaint filed in Patna by the late actor’s father, K.K. Singh.
Chakraborty had told the Supreme Court that she has been falsely implicated in the FIR registered against her in Patna at the instance of K.K Singh.
A single-judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy will hear the matter. The Maharashtra government has also filed a caveat in the top court to ensure that no order is passed without prior notice to it. The Bihar government and Sushant’s father have already filed caveats.
Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case took a dramatic turn recently after his father K.K. Singh filed an FIR in Patna accusing six people, including actress Rhea, for abetment to suicide.
The actress told the apex court on Thursday that she also received many death and rape threats and that she was in deep trauma due to the loss of Sushant, which has multiplied further due to the constant media glare the case has been receiving.
Sushant case: Swamy appointed lawyer says CBI probe only way out
New Delhi: Ishkaran Singh Bhandari, whom BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy earlier appointed to initiate a CBI probe into the Sushant Singh Rajput case, wants to build a mass movement to get justice for the late actor.
Bhandari, a lawyer and political analyst, feels a CBI probe has become mandatory in the case, in order to avoid the brewing turf war between Bihar Police and Mumbai Police.
Back in June, the news of Sushant’s death and subsequent reports on depression and suicide, left many wondering about the factors that might have driven the actor to take his own life. A twist in the narrative came when it emerged that the late actor’s father KK Singh has filed an FIR in Bihar accusing six people including Sushant’s girlfriend, actress Rhea Chakraborty, for abetment to suicide. A Bihar Police team is currently investigating the case in Mumbai.
“From the first week of July, I have been saying after studying the case that it needs a CBI investigation. Unfortunately, Mumbai Police have not even registered an FIR up till now. An FIR is the first step to investigate a criminal offence. They did not even take the first step,” Bhandari told IANS.
“The family went to Bihar, and Bihar Police has now registered a criminal case, which they are investigating. But the Bihar Police will face some jurisdictional issues as well as logistical issues because law and order is the state’s affair,” he added.
The lawyer continued: “So everybody wants justice and we have already wasted 45 days and more on this case. Evidence gets lost and evidence gets tampered. So, in the interest of justice and transparency, it is best that the case now goes to CBI. Also because the Enforcement Directorate, a central agency, is already looking into the money laundering angle.”
“A central agency is anyway going to get involved. So, it should go to a central agency. This would probably not have been needed if Mumbai police had done a fair investigation and registered an FIR. But since they haven’t, the only solution to this is a CBI investigation and not a turf war between Bihar and Mumbai government, and lengthy court proceedings. Just give it to CBI, let us have justice and a thorough investigation into the Sushant Singh Rajput case.”
On June 14, Sushant was found hanging in his residence in Mumbai. The post-mortem report stated that the actor had committed suicide.
Bhandari feels it was “completely wrong to have said it is a case of suicide”.
“Mumbai Police said it even before the post mortem was final, or even before other reports had come in. What if these reports stated that there was poison in the body? How can you decide in, not even day one, (that it was suicide), and you didn’t call it a mysterious death? You didn’t seal the flat. We all know so many lapses in investigation and I have written three letters to Mumbai Police, pointing out what all should have been done,” he said.
The lawyer, who recently initiated a peaceful digital protest #Candle4SSR demanding justice for Sushant, feels that the narrative laid out by the Mumbai Police is riddled with loopholes.
“They know the law, so are they deliberately not following the law, or do they have some ulterior motive for not doing it strictly as per the law? That clearly shows that it has to go to CBI. In these cases, if there is a deliberate attempt to not investigate a matter, sometimes the CBI investigates the entire probe team, too. We really need to get to the bottom of it because at the end of the day we need to ensure justice to Sushant Singh Rajput,” said Bhandari.
However, he says there is a significant improvement now.
“Now, an issue which was basically considered dead and buried is out in the public light and the nation is on it. Everybody is speaking about it. We are still away from justice, as there will be a turf war. So we need to have more changes so that we reach to justice in this case,” he said, adding that every step should be taken to ensure justice.
Sushant’s meditation plans for June-end also raise doubts over suicide theory
Meanwhile a new post by Shweta Singh Kirti, sister of Sushant Singh Rajput, once again puts a question mark on whether the actor actually committed suicide as his post-mortem has suggested, or was any other foul means involved.
Shweta’s Facebook post on Friday evening shows Sushant was actually planning ahead in life, and had chalked out plans for his daily regime till June 29. He was found hanging at his residence on June 14.
In the Facebook post, Shweta shared a photograph of a whiteboard. On the board, in Sushant’s handwriting, is a daily to-do list for himself.
The list includes his plans to practice transcendental meditation daily from June 29.
Other instructions include “make your bed” after waking up, “read books, watch content movies/series, learn guitar and workout” among other things.
“Bhai’s White Board where he was planning to start his workout and transcendental meditation from 29th June daily. So he was planning ahead. #justiceforsushantsinghrajput,” Shweta wrote on Facebook.
Commenting on her post, netizens extended their support to her and prayed for justice to be delivered to the departed soul.
“Shweta ji, Sushant has taught us so much. He is unforgettable energy. I tell his stories to my kids. He had morals and such infectious positive energy. He is within us. thank you for bringing him to us,” shared a user.
“Sushant never committed suicide or forced to do, He isn’t the kind of men who can take such a mad step, He is a genius, wise, talented, ambitious and real hero. He was murdered, they killed him. It’s a real clear murder, God will help us to get him the justice he deserves, I have a strong faith and let’s continue praying,” commented another user.
“He is such a project manager. writing down everything! such an inspiration. i wish he had taken that Stanford scholarship and just came here!” shared a fan from California.
Earlier in the day, Shweta had shared an adorable video of Sushant where he can be seen singing “Mahadev Shambhu”, a song dedicated to Lord Shiva and playing his guitar.
“I want everyone to pray to Lord Shiva, Let him guide us towards the truth and give us the strength to keep fighting. #letspraytogether #SatyamevaJayate #JusticeforSushantSingRajput,” Shweta captioned her video.
