Is Sushant Singh Rajput's probe going anywhere?
- Unmesh Gujarathi
- Oct 02, 2021
Well over a year has passed and there seems to be no conclusive evidence found by the three nodal agencies in connection with the actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) have drawn a nought at establishing any theory different from that of suicidal death on the fateful evening of June 14, 2020, at the actor's Bandra flat.
After an initial phase of an investigation conducted by the city police that relied on the autopsy and medical reports on the deceased's body termed it as a suicidal death, there was a sudden hue and cry raised when the late Sushant's father filed an FIR in a Patna police station alleging fraudulent money transfer from his son's account to the tune of INR 15 crores by his ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty while they were staying together in the actor's Bandra apartment.
Amidst much acrimony exchanged between the state and central governments, the Supreme Court directed CBI to conduct the investigation. Soon after the CBI took over, the Enforcement Directorate too jumped into the probe fray, citing probable money laundering by actress and ex-girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members.
The first nodal agency acting on the basis of actor Sushant's family members' allegation, namely CBI was unable to garner evidence that could substantiate actress Rhea Chakraborty's role of abetment to suicide. The CBI during the course of its investigations gathered statements from the team of AIIMS doctors as well as Cooper hospital medical staff which concurred that there was no evidence of foul play.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) after recording Rhea's and her brother's statement could not establish any instance of INR 15 crores being siphoned by the actress as alleged by Sushant's family. The last nodal agency to join in the witch hunt was the NCB who carried out arrests of over 30 people in connection with possession and supply of narcotic drugs to Sushant. Here again, the NCB was unable to establish any link between the supply of drugs and the actor's death.
Observers, who were following the continuous media reportage since the actor's death on June 14, were of the opinion that it was deliberately kept alive to provide fodder to the three-phase assembly polls in the state of Bihar between October and November 2020. The most recent action taken by NCB sleuths of the Mumbai wing was recording the statements of Sushant's household staff members, namely Keshav Bachner, his cook and Neeraj Singh.
My team conducted a preliminary round of surveys that shed light on how usage of narcotic substances and drugs were rife in some of the film circles. It was also unearthed that prohibitively costly drugs like cocaine and brown sugar (heroin) were available abundantly in joints frequented by high society and creamy social circles to frequent and regular users. The joints included discotheques and pubs besides nightclubs that catered to entertainment events like live concerts. The SIT was also informed that the creamy layers that patronized these joints were used as a via-media by the film crowd to acquire their supplies.
Speaking circumstantially, the legal fraternity opined to our SIT, "Possession of a few grams of any narcotic substance including marijuana or reported purchase of small quantities, even if made frequently, just establishes the premise that the actor was also one of the drug users.
It, however, will not amount to murder or abetment to suicide case as it would be difficult to prove that Sushant decided to end his life under the influence of drugs. In addition, even granted that Sushant hung himself owing to drug usage, it is very difficult if not improbable to establish that he was supplied drugs with the intention to force him into a suicide bid.
To sum it up, our SIT findings state the government of the day decides on what diversionary tactics are to be used to suit its strategic requirements, be it poll-bound or also opposition-ruled states.
Reporter
Unmesh our Editor-at-large is one of the most prolific editors with a career that spans over two decades in leading media houses like The Asian Age, The Free Press Journal, Lokmat etc. Currently, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Sprouts, a daily broadsheet. Unmesh is particularly known for his exposé that have unearthed major scandals of corruption and scoops.
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