In a significant legal relief for actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family, the Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Bombay High Court's ruling to cancel the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) lookout circulars issued against them in connection with the high-profile case surrounding the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan, described the petition by the CBI, the Maharashtra state government, and the Bureau of Immigration as "frivolous." Justice Gavai emphasized that the legal action was driven by the fact that one of the accused comes from a prominent background, warning that the petition would be dismissed with exemplary costs.
The CBI had issued lookout circulars in 2020 against Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and their parents following an FIR filed by Sushant Singh Rajput's family in Patna, which sought a thorough investigation into his death. The case was subsequently handed over to the CBI.
The Bombay High Court had quashed the lookout circulars, noting the absence of justifiable reasons for their issuance. The court recognized that Chakraborty and her family had established roots in society and had cooperated with the ongoing investigations.
In 2020, Rhea Chakraborty and her family faced questioning related to allegations of money laundering linked to Rajput's death. The Enforcement Directorate initiated its probe after claims that she illegally transferred ₹15 crore from Rajput's account, contributing to his alleged suicide.
This latest Supreme Court ruling marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battles faced by Rhea Chakraborty and her family, underscoring the complexities involved in high-profile cases and the judicial scrutiny of investigative actions.
