Vijay V Singh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; August 15, 2020)

Mumbai: Enforcement Directorate (ED) is likely to call Sushant Singh Rajput’s former girlfriend and actress, Ankita Lokhande, to record her statement after they found the Malad flat in which she stays was purchased by Sushant Singh Rajput on loan and the EMI was being deducted from his account till his death. Only a few EMIs for the flat, which is worth Rs 4.5-crore, are pending.

Actress Rhea Chakraborty had told ED officials about the flat and the EMIs in her statement. Rhea is learnt to have told ED officials that Sushant wanted Ankita to vacate the flat. The Malad flat was purchased a few years ago when Sushant and Ankita were in a relationship. Sources stated the ED is in the process of examining the flat purchase details.

Ankita Lokhande’s spokesperson was not available for comment.

On Friday, the ED also recorded the statement of Sushant’s house help and two of his former employees in connection with a financial transaction.

A money laundering case has been registered against Rhea, her brother Showik and their father, besides a few others. The ED is investigating allegations that Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Sushant’s account before his death. The ED had recorded Rhea’s statement on August 7.

Rhea, in her statement, had claimed Sushant developed a psychological problem during their Europe tour last October. She claimed Sushant was badly shaken after seeing a painting in a hotel room in Florence, Italy. On their return, Sushant had to take psychiatric treatment. She claimed six days before his alleged suicide, Sushant had asked her to go and live with her parents.

In his complaint to Patna police, Sushant’s father has alleged Rhea and her family were controlling his son and they had procured a mobile SIM in her house manager’s name which was given to Sushant for use.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has asked the Mumbai police about information gathered by them during their investigation into the case.

The Mumbai police have not registered any offence, but are continuing their investigation into the actor’s death on June 14. They have recorded the statements of 56 persons and collected evidence.