Nearly five years after actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a closure report in the case, concluding that it was a “simple case of suicide.”
The CBI submitted its report before the Bandra magistrate court on Friday, seeking to close the case. The investigating agency has absolved all individuals named in the two FIRs linked to the case, including actor Rhea Chakraborty, her parents, her brother, as well as Rajput’s sister Priyanka and a doctor who was accused in a counter-FIR filed by Rhea Chakraborty. The agency concluded that none of these individuals were involved in abetting the actor’s suicide.
Sushant Singh Rajput, a rising Bollywood star, was discovered hanging in his apartment by his staff on June 14, 2020. The initial investigation was conducted by the Mumbai Police, which registered an Accidental Death Report.
However, the case soon took on national significance, with multiple agencies, including the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), getting involved.
“The CBI has filed a closure report stating that it is a simple case of suicide before the Bandra court.” The Indian Express quoted the official as confirming the closure report.
The court has scheduled a hearing on April 8 to deliberate on the matter and decide the next course of action.
The agency had filed an FIR on August 6, 2020, based on a complaint from Rajput’s father, K.K. Singh, to the Patna Police. The FIR accused Rhea Chakraborty, her family members, and two others of abetment to suicide, cheating, wrongful restraint, theft, criminal breach of trust, and criminal intimidation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
However, after nearly four years of investigation, the CBI found no prosecutable evidence to support these allegations. As per procedure, when a closure report is filed, the investigating officer provides the reasons for closing the case, which may include lack of sufficient evidence or the absence of any wrongdoing. If the court accepts the closure report, the case will be formally closed.
The case witnessed multiple developments over the years. Apart from the CBI investigation, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) launched a separate probe into allegations of drug use linked to Rajput’s death. This led to the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty and several others on drug-related charges, though no direct link to Rajput’s death was established.
Additionally, a counter-FIR was filed by Rhea Chakraborty against Rajput’s sisters, accusing them of procuring medication for him based on a fraudulent prescription. The CBI’s closure report also covers this FIR, stating that no criminal intent was found on the part of Rajput’s sisters.
