Sunil Baghel (MUMBAI MIRROR; July 30, 2020)

Actress Rhea Chakraborty has approached the Supreme Court seeking transfer of the case registered by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s father, Krishna Kishore Singh, to Mumbai, while terming that first information report as false and motivated. The petition, filed through Advocate Satish Maneshinde, also seeks a stay on investigation in the FIR registered by Singh till the time the Supreme Court decides her petition.

The petition argues that the Mumbai police has already registered an Accidental Death Report under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code and has recorded statements of over 40 individuals, including her. It cites jurisdiction as a reason for seeking transfer of the FIR to Mumbai, stating that the entire course of action with respect to the incident has arisen in Mumbai.

The petition also alleges influence of a senior Indian Police Service officer—a close relative of Rajput—in registration of the case, stating he had tried influencing the Mumbai police. It cites an email sent by the concerned officer to a senior officer in Mumbai Police so that an FIR can be registered. Maneshinde has sought an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court on Chakraborty’s petition.

The case registered at Rajiv Nagar Police Station in Patna, Bihar, is against Rhea Chakraborty, her three family members and two others, under Section 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 306 (abetment of suicide). Sushant had allegedly killed himself by hanging at his rented apartment in Bandra on June 14.