CBI FILES F.I.R. AGAINST RHEA, FAMILY, OTHERS | 7 August, 2020

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 6th August filed an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty, her parents and brother, and her associates, Samuel Miranda and Shruti Modi. The FIR was filed under sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy, abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal intimidation.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s stand on the case being transferred to the CBI is awaited. If the apex court gives the green signal to the CBI investigation, it will set a precedent as before this, the CBI has been barred from investigating cases falling under the jurisdiction of states unless requisitioned by the state government concerned or ordered by courts. In the Sushant case, the agency has entered the scene on the basis of the request of a state government (Bihar) to probe a crime which took place in another state (Maharashtra). The case has been handed over to the anti-corruption unit VI (SIT), New Delhi. The SIT in the CBI consists of joint director Manoj Shashidhar, DIG Gagandeep Gambhir, and additional SP, Anil Yadav, among others. Yadav is the investigating officer.

The Maharashtra police, in the meantime, reiterated that they had not found evidence to book Sushant’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, for abetment. The confidential report of the Bombay police’s investigation, with all circumstantial probe details and evidence, will be submitted in a sealed envelope to the apex court, as demanded by it. The Maharashtra government will also submit an affidavit sought by the Supreme Court along with its view in the case.