SC order CBI inquiry in Sushant’s death: Complete chronology of events from his death till date

– Manas Dasgupta

NEW DELHI, August 19: Rejecting the Maharashtra government’s objections and providing a major relief to the family and friends of the deceased Bollywood actor, the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI inquiry into the “unnatural death” of Sushant Singh Rajput at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14.

In his 35-page judgement, the single judge bench of Hrishikesh Roy directed the Mumbai police to hand over all the evidences collected so far in Sushant’s alleged murder case to the CBI and said if any other case was registered on the death of the actor and “the surrounding circumstances of his unnatural death,” should also be investigated by the CBI.

The court observed that the FIR registered by the Patna police on the complaint filed by the deceased actor’s father Krishna Kishore Singh, was “correct” and the Bihar government was justified to refer the FIR to the CBI. The court ensured that there was no confusion about CBI being the sole authority to probe the mystery behind Rajput’s suicidal death and that no other state police could interfere with it and observed that the CBI would be competent to probe not only the Patna FIR but any other FIR related to Rajput death case.

The SC said since the Mumbai police had registered only an accidental death report for Rajput’s death, it had limited investigation powers. Since Bihar police registered a full-fledged FIR which already stand referred to CBI, the central agency should probe the case.

The court directed the actor’s friend Rhea Chakraborty, already being investigated by the Mumbai police and the Enforcement Directorate in connection with transfer of some of Sushant’s accounts, to “appear and face investigation” by the CBI in the same way as she had co-operated with the Mumbai Police and the ED. Her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said she would co-operate in the CBI investigation in the same way as she had done so far as she always maintained that the “truth will remain the same whichever agency investigate the case.

The apex court judgement was warmly received by the family and friends of Sushant who said investigation by the CBI would bring out the truth and clear the mystery behind his untimely death. In her first reaction immediately after the Supreme Court judgement, his sister Shweta Singh Rajput tweeted, “Thank you God! You have answered our prayers!! But it is just the beginning… the first step towards the truth! Full faith on CBI!! There we go!! Finally!! CBI for SSR!! Congratulations to my extended Family!! So happy… first step towards victory and unbiased investigation,” she said.

“SC also said that any other FIR registered in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput’s death will also be investigated by the CBI. We hope that we should get justice very soon. The family is very happy with the verdict,” Vikas Singh, lawyer of Sushant’s father said.

The Bihar government had referred the Patna FIR to the CBI, leading the Centre to ask the investigating agency to take up the case in the face of the strong opposition from the Maharashtra government which defended the Mumbai Police jurisdiction since the incident occurred in its area. The Maharashtra government instead and demanded that the Patna FIR should be transferred to Mumbai police since it happened in its jurisdiction. The Mumbai police, however, are yet to register an FIR and have continued their inquiry under an accidental death report. Lately the Shiv Sena, one of the three constituents of the Maharashtra ruling clique “Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi,” stood alone in opposing the CBI inquiry with both of its two other partners, the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress maintaining the stand that they would have no objections if the apex court agreed for a CBI inquiry into his death.

Sushant’s father on July 25 had had submitted a complaint to the Patna police against Chakraborty, her family members and a few others, alleging they abetted his son’s suicide. Based on the complaint, the Patna police had filed an FIR against Chakraborty and others. In the complaint, Singh had also claimed that an amount of Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from his son’s bank account. The FIR in Patna was registered by Singh against Chakraborty and others for alleged offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 306 (abetment of suicide), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (punishment for criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property).

Entering the fray, solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the SC on behalf of the central government that it was a fit case for CBI probe as Mumbai police had not registered an FIR and had declared that it was a case of suicide.

“We do not know what is the role of Chakraborty in the case — witness, accused, complainant or nobody? Yet, she moves an application in the SC seeking transfer of the FIR to Mumbai. What is her interest in seeking transfer when she should be interested only in a fair probe, irrespective of the agency which investigates the case,” Mehta had said.

Raising an accusing finger against the Maharashtra government, the Bihar police had told the apex court that “political clout” had not allowed Mumbai Police to even register an FIR in Rajput’s case while the Maharashtra government opposed the plea that Bihar “completely lacked jurisdiction” in the case.

While Rhea’s counsel told the court that the probe by the Mumbai Police had “proceeded quite substantially” as it had recorded statements of 56 persons in the case, advocate for K K Singh countered submissions of her counsel and told the top court that the main complainant had “no faith in the Maharashtra police.

Following are some of the operative parts of the SC judgement: 

20. In the present case, the Mumbai Police has attempted to stretch the purview of Section 174 without drawing up any FIR and therefore, as it appears, no investigation pursuant to commission of a cognizable offence is being carried out by the Mumbai police.

They are yet to register a FIR. Nor they have made a suitable determination, in terms of Section 175(2) CrPC. Therefore, it is pre-emptive and premature to hold that a parallel investigation is being carried out by the Mumbai Police. In case of a future possibility of cognizance being taken by two courts in different jurisdictions, the issue could be resolved under Section 186 CrPC and other applicable laws. No opinion is therefore expressed on a future contingency and the issue is left open to be decided, if needed, in accordance with law.

21. Following the above, it is declared that the inquiry conducted under Section 174 CrPC by the Mumbai police is limited for a definite purpose but is not an investigation of a crime under Section 157 of the CrPC.

2. The Respondent no 2 in his Complaint alleged commission of a cognizable offence and therefore, it was incumbent for the police to register the FIR and commence the investigation. According to the Complainant, his attempt from Patna to talk to his son Page 21 of 35 on telephone was thwarted by the accused persons and the possibility of saving the life of his son through father son engagement, was missed out. In consequence, the Complainant lost his only son who at the appropriate time, as the learned counsel has vividly submitted, was expected to light the funeral pyre of his father.

23. Registration of FIR is mandated when information on cognizable offence is received by the police. Precedents suggest that at the stage of investigation, it cannot be said that the concerned police station does not have territorial jurisdiction to investigate the case. On this aspect the ratio in Lalita Kumari Vs. Govt. of UP (2014) 2 SCC 1 is relevant where on behalf of the Constitution Bench.

OPTIONS BEFORE MUMBAI POLICE

31. The Patna police although found to be competent to investigate the allegation in the Complaint, the FIR suggests that most of the transactions/incidents alleged in the Complaint occurred within the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Maharashtra. The Mumbai Police was inquiring into the unnatural death of the complainant’s son under section 174 of the CrPC. So far, their inquiry has not resulted in any FIR suggesting commencement of investigation on the criminal aspects, if any.

However, the incidents referred to in the Complaint does indicate that the Mumbai police also possess the jurisdiction to undertake investigation on those circumstances. Therefore, in the event of a case being registered also at Mumbai, the consent for the investigation by the CBI under Section 6 of the DSPE Act can be competently given by Maharashtra Government.

INVESTIGATION ENTRUSTMENT TO CBI

32. While the CBI cannot conduct any investigation without the consent of the concerned state as mandated under section 6, the powers of the Constitutional Courts are not fettered by the statutory restriction of the DSPE Act. For this proposition, one can usefully refer to State of West Bengal Vs. Sampat Lal (1985) 1 SCC 317 where Justice Ranganath Mishra in his judgment for the 3 judges Bench, In such backdrop, to ensure public confidence in the investigation and to do complete justice in the matter, this Court considers it appropriate to invoke the powers conferred by Article 142 of the Constitution. As a Court exercising lawful jurisdiction for the assigned roster, no impediment is seen for exercise of plenary power in the present matter. Therefore while according approval for the ongoing CBI investigation, if any other case is registered on the death of the actor Sushant Singh Rajput and the surrounding circumstances of his unnatural death, the CBI is directed to investigate the new case as well.

Following is the day-wise (till date) Chronology of events in relation to Sushant’s death prepared and released by the “Jagran” group of Newspapers:

The tragic death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who allegedly committed suicide, sent the entire nation into a state of shock. The 34-year-old actor, who starred in some big hits like MS Dhoni: The Untold Story, Chhichhore, Kai Po Che and PK, was found hanging in his Bandra residence in Mumbai on the morning of June 14.

The police in its initial investigation revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput was suffering from depression and was on antidepressants. Also, no suicide note was found from his home.

Since his demise in June, many developments have taken place related to his death case. To keep a track of the investigation and check for follow-ups on the same, here’s a timeline of events that took place from the day the actor committed suicide till date.

June 14: Sushant Singh Rajput committed suicide at his Bandra residence in Mumbai. Rajput was 34-years-old and was found hanging in his apartment on Sunday morning. The domestic help first spotted the body and informed the police.

(The police find prescription related to depression at his residence. However, no suicide note was found. “He has committed suicide. Mumbai Police is investigating. The police has not found any (suicide) note yet,” Mumbai Police Spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranay Ashok said.)

June 15: The last rites of Sushant Singh Rajput was concluded at Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai’s Vile Parle. His father, sister and a few of his friends including Rhea Chakraborty attended his funeral.

(Kangana Ranaut questions the Mumbai Police investigations and debunks the theory of Sushant committing suicide. She brings forward the nepotism angle once more and states that the actor was a victim of nepotism that exists in the film industry. Kangana later also claimed that Sushant was affected by the vicious blind items that were written against him.)

June 17: Amid uproars for demanding justice for Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, a lawyer moved a criminal complaint in a local court against 8 persons, including Salman Khan, Karan Johar and Ekta Kapoor regarding his death. The complainant in his complaint alleged that these eight people forced Sushant to commit suicide under a conspiracy which, he pleaded, amounted to murder.

(Others named in the complaint are Aditya Chopra, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhushan Kumar, Ekta Kapoor, and director Dinesh. Casting director Mukesh Chhabra questioned by Mumbai Police. Sushant starred in Chhabra’s directorial debut ‘Dil Bechara’ which was the actor’s last film. Chhabra revealed that he last spoke to Sushant on his birthday, which was on May 27. Sushant had reportedly told him that he was unwell.)

June 18: Sushant’s ashes were immersed in the holy river Ganga in his hometown Patna in Bihar, where his late mother’s ashes had also been immersed.

On the same day, Sushant’s girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty arrived at Bandra police station to record her statement in regards to the death of the actor.

(Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty is summoned by the Mumbai Police. Is questioned for 9 hours. Rhea states she was in a live-in relationship with the late actor. Had left his home four days before his death after an argument with him.)

June 19: Leading the investigation further, the Mumbai Police sought details of contracts from Yash Raj Films for at least two movies Sushant had signed with them. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh also said that the police would probe all angles, including allegations of professional rivalries.

(June 20: Mumbai Police recorded the statements of Sushant Singh Rajput’s managerial staff.)

June 24: The final postmortem report signed by a team of five doctors was received by the Mumbai police. According to the postmortem report, “No struggle marks or external injuries” were found in the actor’s body. The postmortem report also mentioned the cause of death as asphyxia due to hanging.

(His nails were also found clean. The report cites the actor’s death as a “clear case of suicide with no other foul play.”)

June 30: Sushant Singh Rajput’s co-star in his last film Dil Bechara, Sanjana Sanghi was interrogated by the Mumbai police at the Bandra police station. His family members also met with the police regarding the investigation.

(The late actor’s sister Meetu and her husband, and the late actor’s friend, actor Mahesh Shetty, also met the police.)

July 6: Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali was questioned by the Mumbai police. During interrogation, Bhansali revealed that Sushant was approached for films like “Goliyon Ki Rasleela: Ram-Leela” (2013), “Bajirao Mastani” (2015) and “Padmaavat” (2018) but he did not have dates.

(July 9:  In a letter to PM Narendra Modi, Cabinet Minister Subramanian Swamy appealed for a CBI Probe in the actor’s death case. His letter is acknowledged on July 26. Fans on social media welcome the move.)

(July 10: Sushant’s name had cropped up briefly ovedr #MeToo controversy and Sanjana had to later clear his name from the controversy.)

July 11: Mumbai Police records statement of Salman Khan’s former manager Reshma Shetty. She is one of Bollywood’s top celebrity managers and was questioned for nearly five hours at Bandra police station.

July 14: After one month of his death, his ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande remembered the actor and expressed her grief in an Instagram post. His rumoured present-day girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty also posted an Instagram post for the actor.

July 16: Actress Rhea Chakraborty in a social media post posted a screenshot of receiving death threats from a user on social media. Taking to Instagram, she also revealed the identity of the user who goes by the name Mannu Rauut. Along with the picture of the threat, Rhea wrote that she kept quiet even when she was called “gold-digger, murder and slut-shamed”.

July 16: Hours after posting death threats she is receiving since the death of her boyfriend and Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, actress Rhea Chakraborty on Thursday called for CBI probe in his death case by tagging Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Instagram.

July 17: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the Mumbai Police is capable of handling the matter and there was no need of a CBI enquiry into the matter. Deshmukh also said that the Mumbai police is also examining the business rivalry angle in the matter.

July 18: Mumbai Police records statement of Aditya Chopra, who was reportedly interrogated for over four hours.

(According to reports,Sushant had signed a contract with Yash Raj Films (YRF) for three films. He starred in two YRF productions, “Shuddh Desi Romance” in 2013 and “Detective Byomkesh Bakshy” in 2015. He was scheduled to to work in a third TRF film, Shekhar Kapur’s “Paani”, but the project got shelved.)

(July 20: Mumbai Police recorded statements of three psychiatrists and one psychotherapist.)

(July 21: The Bandra cops called film critic Rajeev Masand for interrogation. They asked him about all the blind items that he had written for Open magazine. The same day, fans organize an online digital protest which got a staggering response of 10 lakh tweets with people demanding a fair trial in Sushant’s murder case. His ex, TV star Ankita Lokhande also lit a candle praying for his justice.)

(July 23: Kangana targets the ‘nepo gang’ in a new video. Calls out Karan Johar, Aditya Chopra, Salman Khan for giving preferential treatment to star kids like Alia Bhatt, Tiger Shroff, and others over talented outsiders like Sushant. Karan Johar, Alia Bhatt lose a huge number of followers on social media, trolled.)

July 24: Sushant Singh Rajput’s last film Dil Bechara was released on the OTT Platform Disney Plus Hotstar. With the support of fans, Sushant’s Dil Bechara’s IMDb rating climbed to 10 within minutes of its release. Currently, Dil Bechara is rated 9.8 out of 10 with more than 21,000 votes.

July 26: Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged a letter by former Cabinet Minister Subramanian Swamy, requesting a CBI enquiry in the suicide case of Sushant.

July 27: Mumbai Police records statement of filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. He was spotted wearing a face shield, gloves and mask, as he made his way into the Santacruz police station to give his statement.

(The filmmaker states he has met Sushant only twice in his life. He said that at a party in February, he found the actor confused and told Rhea Chakraborty to take good care of him. The viscera report submitted by Mumbai police rules out the possibility of foul play. The stomach wash report is awaited as well as nail samples.)

July 28: Mumbai Police records statement of Apoorva Mehta, CEO of Dharma Productions, the production house of Karan Johar.

July 28: Sushant Singh Rajput’s father lodged an FIR in Patna against six people including actress Rhea Chakraborty. In the FIR, Sushant Singh Rajput’s father also accused Rhea Chakraborty of transferring Rs 15 crore from the actor’s bank account and accused her of abetment to suicide.

He even accused Rhea and her family members of stealing Sushant’s laptop, cash, jewellery, credit cards with PINs etc. and threatening the late actor of making his medical reports public.

(She is also accused of criminal breach of trust, forgery and some charges under the Indian Mental Health Act.)

(In his complaint, Sushant’s father said, “While my son was doing extremely well in Bollywood till May 2019, a girl named Rhea Chakraborty and her family members and others got in touch with him so that she could use his contacts to make a career in the film industry.”

“She along with her family members, namely Indrajit Chakraborty, Sandhya Chakraborty and Shauvik Chakraborty, started interfering in my son’s life. They even forced him to move out of the house he was living in, saying that some paranormal activities were going on there which had a big-time impact on my son’s mind. They forced him to live in a resort near Mumbai airport,” he said in his complaint.)

July 29: Forensic analysis revealed that the cloth believed to have been used by the actor to hang, could take his weight. Analysis of ligature marks found on his neck also points to the actor’s death is a case of suicide, rather than homicide.

July 29: KK Singh also told ANI that the Mumbai Police was not registering an FIR in the matter and was instead forcing them to give the names of big production houses to get them involved in the case. He claimed that the matter was heading in a different direction under the Mumbai Police.

July 29: Actress Rhea Chakraborty filed a petition in Supreme Court and sought transfer of investigation in Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide case to Mumbai Police. Rhea Chakraborty knocked on the door of the Supreme Court after Patna police reached Mumbai in search of her.

(July 29: Apurva Agnihotri, the CEO of Dharma Productions submits the contract papers for ‘Drive’ – Sushant’s last film before ‘Dil Bechara’. The film was initially planned as a three-film deal and meant for theatrical release but eventually was released on Netflix. Agnihotri revealed why the film was released on an OTT platform. He said they did not have a clash with the late actor. Karan Johar might get called if required.)

(Vikas Singh, Ex-Addl Solicitor General and lawyer of Sushant Singh Rajput’s father has claimed that the actor’s family had approached the Mumbai Police four months before he allegedly committed suicide. Singh told Times Now, “on 25th February, the family had reported to Bandra police saying, ‘he is not in good company and please ensure nothing untoward happens to him’.” He further added that Patna Police too was hesitant in filing the FIR but did so when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stepped in.)

(July 30: The family of Sushant Singh Rajput filed caveat in the Supreme Court on Rhea Chakraborty’s petition.)

July 31: Rhea Chakraborty told the Supreme Court that she was in a “live-in relationship” with Sushant Singh Rajput and had left his house on June 8 – just six days before the actor allegedly committed suicide at his Mumbai residence.

July 31: Rhea Chakraborty broke her silence over the FIR filed against her by the family of Sushant Singh Rajput and said that the “truth shall prevail”. In a video statement released by her lawyer Satish Maneshinde, Chakraborty said that she has full faith in the judiciary and said that refrain from speaking about the allegations against her since the matter is sub-judice.

(July 31– The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a money laundering case against Rhea and others on the basis of Sushant’s father’s FIR in Patna.)

(July 31: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. BJP MLA and a relative of the late actor, Niraj Kumar Singh Babloo said that the Maharashtra Police were just doing ‘formality’. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government also filed a caveat before the Supreme Court on Rhea’s plea.)

August 1: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the government can initiate a CBI probe on the condition if the family of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput demands it.

(August 1: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said Sushant Singh Rajput case should not be politicised or used to create friction between Maharashtra and Bihar.)

(The same day, in an exclusive interview with Zee News, Ankita Lokhande states that his fans and family deserve to know the truth about Sushant’s death. Ankita states that they were not in touch post-2016 when they broke up but she was sure that Sushant was not the kind of person who would get depressed. “He was fearless,” Ankita says.)

August 2: Rhea Chakraborty went missing. Bihar Police traced the whereabouts of Chakraborty and sent a notice, asking her to comply in the investigation.

(August 2: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh condemned the demand for Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case to be handed over to the CBI.)

August 3: Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said they had no information on the whereabouts of Rhea Chakraborty, who is absconding ever since late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s father lodged an FIR against her. Singh also said that the actor was suffering from bipolar disorder for which he was on medication.

(August 3: IPS officer Vinay Tiwari, heading a police team from Patna probing into the case related to actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, was “forcibly quarantined” by the municipal authorities in Mumbai. Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey said a team has examined the quarantine guidelines of Maharashtra government and asserted that the quarantine was not needed.

BJP MLA Niraj Kumar Singh raised the issue of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in Bihar Legislative Assembly and demanded a CBI probe. An ED team questions Sandip Shridhar, Chartered Accountant of Sushant.)

August 4: According to a Bihar police official, when Mumbai Police didn’t cooperate and hand over important documents related to the case, they changed their strategy and started digging for evidence. The Bihar Police has prepared a file of evidence that includes 48-page bank transactions between Rhea and Sushant and a 13-page WhatsApp chat between the late actor and his ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande. Statements of six people and telephone conversations with a key witness are also part of that.

(August 4: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Chirag Paswan, BJP leader Nishikant Dubey and Sushant Singh Rajput’s father requested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to transfer Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case to the CBI. The Bombay High Court postponed a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking transfer of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case to the CBI due to heavy rains in Mumbai.

The Bihar government recommended a CBI inquiry in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.)

August 5: The Centre informed the Supreme Court that it has handed over the probe into Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During the Supreme Court hearing on a plea filed by accused Rhea Chakraborty, solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the top court that the Centre has accepted Bihar government’s request to conduct a CBI investigation of the case.

August 5: Bihar Police DGP Gupteshwar Pandey said that Rhea Chakraborty is absconding and not coming forward. His remarks came even as Chakraborty’s lawyer recently clarified that the actress is not ‘missing’ and she had not been issued any summons by Bihar police.

(The Bombay High Court adjourned a PIL seeking CBI probe in death case in view of Supreme Court hearing.

The Supreme Court directs the Centre, Bihar and Maharashtra governments, Mumbai Police and the father of Sushant Singh Rajput to file their replies on actor Rhea Chakraborty’s plea. A PIL filed in the Supreme Court for court-monitored CBI probe into the death of Disha Salian, actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former Manager, claiming that both cases are inter-linked.)

(The Supreme Court asks Bihar Police, Mumbai Police to submit reports related to the case within three days.)

August – 6: CBI registered a case against Rhea Chakraborty, Indrajit Chakraborty, Sandhya Chakraborty, Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, Shruti Modi and others over Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

August-7: Bihar government files an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the transfer petition filed by actress Rhea Chakraborty is “misconceived and not maintainable”.

Actress Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik questioned by the ED in Mumbai. Shruti Modi, former business manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, also questioned by the ED in Mumbai.

Bihar IPS Vinay Tiwari, who was probing the matter in Mumbai, leaves for Patna and accused the authorities in Mumbai of obstructing the probe in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

August 8: Father of the late actor, KK Singh filed affidavit in the Supreme Court claiming Rhea Chakraborty’s plea has become ‘infructuous’ since the case was transferred to the CBI.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said the state government will abide by the Supreme Court’s order related to Mumbai Police probe into late actor’s death case.

Mumbai Police filed reply on Rhea’s plea in Supreme Court saying the CBI should not have registered an FIR in connection with the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

(August 8: A day after the Enforcement Directorate interrogated Rhea in connection with money laundering allegations levelled against her by Sushant’s father, she said in a statement that the only things of the late actor’s she had in her possession were a note of gratitude and a water bottle.)

(August 8: Rhea Chakraborty lawyer Satish Maneshinde shared a picture from Sushant Singh Rajput handwritten “gratitude note” on Rhea’s notebook where he has expressed gratitude for his life and the presence of Rhea’s family in his life, along with note she also shared late actor’s sipper with ‘Chhichhore’ written on it. Rhea claimed that these two are the only property she possesses that belongs to Sushant.)

August 9: The ED quizzes Rhea Chakraborty’s brother Showik in Mumbai.

August 10: Rhea Chakraborty files fresh plea in Supreme Court against the alleged “unfair media trial” against her in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

August 11: The Supreme Court reserved its judgment on Rhea’s plea and asked all the parties to file their submissions.

(August 11: Rhea told the SC that there appears to be considerable amount of state interference, influence and therefore an apprehension of bias in the probe conducted by Bihar Police and added that the FIR lodged against her in Sushant’s death case in the state has no connection with any offence in Patna.)

August 13: CBI files its submission in the apex court. It said that the CBI and ED should be allowed by the Supreme Court to continue the investigation in the death case.

August 17: ED recorded the statement of Sushant Singh Rajput’s father.

August 18: Rhea Chakraborty, in a statement through her lawyer, said that the financial transactions of the actress were “crystal clear and there is nothing incriminating against her”. She also alleged that Sushant’s sister Priyanka once “groped” her while being drunk.

(August 18: On the eve of the verdict, Rhea shared a statement through her legal team, claiming that she had a ‘strained relationship’ with Sushant’s family and called the allegations of abetment to suicide against her ‘concocted and fabricated for ulterior purposes’.)

August 19: The Supreme Court held that the FIR registered in Bihar’s Patna was legitimate and ordered the CBI to investigate the case. It also said that the Bihar government was competent to recommend transferring the case to the CBI.

(With inputs from Aditya Hore and Vinayak Barot)