Nearly five years after the tragic death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially closed its probe, declaring it a “simple case of suicide.” The agency has filed a closure report before the Bandra magistrate court, absolving all individuals named in the two FIRs, including actress Rhea Chakraborty, her family, Rajput’s sister Priyanka Singh, and a doctor.
CBI Files Closure Report
The CBI filed a miscellaneous criminal application on Friday, seeking to conclude the case due to a lack of evidence supporting any foul play or abetment of suicide. The report states that there is no evidence to prosecute those previously accused. The court has scheduled a hearing on April 8 for further proceedings.
The case dates back to June 14, 2020, when Rajput was found hanging at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. Following public outcry and allegations of foul play, the case was handed over to the CBI on August 19, 2020, by the Supreme Court.
Allegations and Investigations
Initially, the Mumbai police registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). However, on July 25, 2020, Rajput’s father, K K Singh, filed an FIR with the Patna police, accusing Rhea Chakraborty and her family of abetment to suicide, financial fraud, and other charges. This led to an intense legal battle, with Rhea filing a counter-complaint against Rajput’s sisters and a doctor, alleging that they had conspired to procure false prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, which she claimed contributed to his deteriorating mental health.
While the Bombay High Court quashed charges against Rajput’s sister Meetu Singh in February 2021, the investigation against Priyanka Singh continued. The Supreme Court upheld this decision. However, the CBI chose not to file a separate FIR based on Rhea’s complaint and instead probed all aspects under the original FIR.
No Evidence of Murder or Conspiracy
Despite widespread speculation, conspiracy theories, and social media outrage claiming Rajput was murdered, the CBI’s report finds no evidence to support these allegations. The agency has not linked his death to that of his former manager, Disha Salian, who passed away on June 8, 2020.
Political controversy also surrounded the case. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s tenure in Maharashtra, then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya Thackeray were targeted by political opponents. BJP leader Narayan Rane alleged foul play, demanding further investigation into Salian’s death. However, both Mumbai police and the CBI found no wrongdoing.
This week, Disha Salian’s father indicated plans to approach the Bombay High Court for an FIR against Aaditya Thackeray. In response, Narayan Rane reignited his allegations against the Shiv Sena leader, prompting further political debates. Aaditya Thackeray has dismissed the claims as an attempt to malign him and has stated that he will address them legally.
With the CBI’s closure report, the case of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death is now set to reach its final legal conclusion, pending the court’s decision on April 8.
