In a major development on Wednesday, the Centre accepted Bihar government’s request for a CBI probe into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta confirmed the same to the apex court, The Week reported quoting ANI.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had requested the Centre for a CBI probe at the behest of Sushant’s father, Krishna Kishore Singh even though the Maharashtra government is not in favour of the move.
The Supreme Court also said today that quarantining of the police officer, Vinay Tiwari who arrived in Mumbai to lead the Bihar Police’s investigation into the death of actor does not send a good message when there is so much attention on the case.
“Quarantining of the Bihar Police officer has not sent good message despite the fact that Mumbai Police has good professional reputation,” the top court said as it heard actor Rhea Chakraborty’s petition seeking the transfer of an FIR – from Patna to Mumbai – accusing her of abetting Sushant Singh Rajput’s alleged suicide in June.
Earlier, contesting the Bihar government’s recommendation, Rhea’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde had said that Bihar had no ‘legal basis to get involved’. “There can’t be transfer of a case which had no legal basis for Bihar to get involved. At most, it would be a ‘Zero FIR’ transferable to Mumbai Police. Transfer of a case, on which they had no jurisdiction, to CBI has no legal sanctity,” he was quoted as telling ANI.
It may be recalled that Rhea had sought transfer of the FIR lodged in Patna on the ground of jurisdiction. Countering the move, Krishna Kishore Singh had filed a caveat in the apex court, seeking to be heard before the court takes a decision on Rhea’s plea. Bihar government also filed a caveat, and hired former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi to challenge Rhea in the SC.
