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The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially closed its investigation into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, nearly five years after he was found deceased in his Mumbai apartment. The closure encompasses two separate cases: one concerning the abetment to suicide, initially filed by Rajput’s father, KK Singh, and the other related to a counter-complaint lodged by Rhea Chakraborty, Rajput’s rumored girlfriend, against his sisters. These closure reports, submitted to special courts in Patna and Mumbai respectively, mark a significant development in a case that has been marred by intense media scrutiny, public speculation, and numerous conspiracy theories. The initial investigation by the Mumbai Police had concluded that Rajput’s death was a suicide, a finding supported by the postmortem report which cited asphyxia due to hanging as the cause. However, this initial determination did little to quell the rising tide of public concern, fueled in part by allegations of foul play and conspiracy. The case quickly became a national obsession, with various individuals and groups advancing their own theories and agendas. This heightened scrutiny put immense pressure on investigative agencies and further complicated the already sensitive matter. The complaint filed by KK Singh accused Rhea Chakraborty of abetting his son’s suicide and misappropriating Rajput’s funds. Singh alleged that Chakraborty had siphoned off approximately Rs 15 crore from Rajput’s accounts and even suggested that she had poisoned him. These allegations were vehemently denied by Chakraborty, who maintained her innocence throughout the investigation. The CBI took over the investigation from the Bihar Police and conducted a thorough inquiry, including recording statements from Chakraborty and other involved parties. Subsequently, Chakraborty, her brother Shouvik, and several others were arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with a drugs-related probe that was linked to Rajput’s death. Chakraborty spent 28 days in jail before being granted bail, further amplifying the drama surrounding the case. Despite the initial suspicions and allegations, the CBI ultimately concluded that there was no evidence of foul play or any material to support the claim that anyone had driven Rajput to suicide. The agency’s conclusion was based on a comprehensive analysis of expert opinions, crime scene analysis, witness statements, and forensic reports. A crucial piece of evidence was a conclusive medico-legal opinion from AIIMS forensic experts, which ruled out the possibility of poisoning or strangulation. This opinion further strengthened the CBI’s conclusion that Rajput’s death was a suicide and not the result of any foul play.
In response to the allegations against her, Rhea Chakraborty filed a counter-FIR against Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, Priyanka Singh, and a Delhi-based doctor. Chakraborty accused them of prescribing medication to Rajput without proper consultation or diagnosis. She alleged that Rajput died just five days after taking the medicines prescribed under questionable circumstances. This case, initially registered by the Mumbai Police, was later handed over to the CBI. The agency examined the prescription in question and recorded statements from Priyanka Singh and the doctor. However, the CBI found no substantial evidence to support Chakraborty’s claims. Investigators concluded that there was no foul play involved in the prescription provided to Rajput. The CBI's closure of both cases marks a significant step towards bringing closure to a long and emotionally charged investigation. The courts will now decide whether to accept the closure reports or order further investigation by the agency. The decision of the courts will be crucial in determining whether the case will be officially closed or if further inquiries are deemed necessary. The implications of this decision extend beyond the legal realm and could have a profound impact on the public perception of the case. Rhea Chakraborty’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, expressed gratitude to the CBI for thoroughly investigating every aspect of the case from all angles and closing the case. He condemned the false narratives that circulated in social media and electronic media, pointing out that innocent people were hounded and paraded before the media and investigative authorities. Maneshinde also highlighted the immense suffering that Chakraborty had endured, including spending 27 days in jail before being released on bail. His statement underscores the significant toll that the case has taken on the individuals involved, particularly Chakraborty, who has been subjected to intense public scrutiny and judgment. The closure of the cases by the CBI is not the end of the story. The courts must now review the CBI's findings and determine whether to accept the closure reports. This process could take time, and there is always the possibility that the courts could order further investigation.
The political dimension of the Sushant Singh Rajput case cannot be ignored. The Maharashtra Congress launched a scathing attack on the BJP over the CBI’s closure report, accusing the saffron party of exploiting Rajput's death for political gains and to malign the then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Congress alleged that the CBI's findings have exposed the BJP's “dirty politics of extracting political mileage from the tragedy”. State Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted that the BJP had misused the actor’s death to tarnish the image of the MVA government and to gain an advantage in the Bihar elections. These accusations highlight the extent to which the case became politicized, with various political parties attempting to leverage the situation for their own benefit. The Congress's allegations against the BJP suggest that the case was used as a tool to undermine the MVA government and to mobilize voters in Bihar, where Rajput was originally from. The political implications of the case underscore the challenges of conducting impartial investigations in a highly charged political environment. The CBI's closure of the cases is unlikely to silence the conspiracy theories that have surrounded Rajput's death. Despite the agency's findings, many individuals and groups are likely to continue to believe that there was foul play involved. The persistence of these conspiracy theories could further complicate the efforts to bring closure to the case and could continue to fuel public debate and speculation. The dissemination of misinformation and the prevalence of online rumors have made it difficult to establish a clear and accurate narrative of the events surrounding Rajput's death. This has contributed to a climate of distrust and skepticism, making it challenging for the public to accept the official findings of the investigation. The CBI's closure of the Sushant Singh Rajput death cases marks a significant development in a long and complex investigation. While the agency's findings point to suicide and rule out foul play, the case remains a sensitive and controversial one. The courts must now decide whether to accept the closure reports, and the political implications of the case are likely to continue to be debated. Ultimately, the search for truth and justice in this case has been a challenging and often frustrating process, and the outcome is likely to leave many questions unanswered.
Source: Sushant Singh Rajput death: Why CBI closed abetment and drug prescription cases