CBI files closure report four years after Sushant's death

Agency clears girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of abetment

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report in the case of Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, reported Times of India. The findings were submitted on Saturday before a Mumbai court, which will now decide to either accept the report or not.

The Mumbai Police's initial reports indicated that the actor, who was found hanging at his Bandra residence in June 2020, committed suicide, since no evidence of outside intervention was found. The CBI's report also cleared Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family of allegations.

Previously, Rhea was accused of abetment to suicide following Sushant's death. His family also lodged an FIR against her and others on claims of theft, cheating, and wrongful confinement. This escalated in a jurisdictional dispute between the Bihar Police and the Mumbai Police.

It was the Bihar Police that recommended the CBI probe, which came into effect in August 2020, as directed by the Supreme Court of India. Now, years after the central agency took over the case, Rhea has been cleared of her charges.

Celebrities rallied behind the Jalebi actor after the recent developments came to light. "Who in the media will have the grace to put out a written apology to Rhea Chakraborty and her family? You went on a witch hunt. You caused deep anguish and harassment and just for TRPs. Apologise. That's the very least you can do," wrote Sanju actor Dia Mirza on Instagram Stories.

Saathi actor Soni Razdan said, "Should have decided this before they put the poor girl in jail and tried to destroy her reputation. This was nothing but a modern day witch hunt. Question is, where is the accountability? Who pays?"

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi also empathised with Rhea, saying that the latter had "gone through hell". Adding that the younger actor's trauma was "unimaginable", Shabana urged netizens to give Rhea time and space to recover from the ordeal.

Following Sushant's tragic death, Bhool Bhulaiyaa actor Vidya Balan also spoke out against the vitriol that Rhea underwent. Vidya wrote on X, "It is so unfortunate that the tragic and untimely death of a beloved young star Sushant Singh Rajput has become a media circus. In the same breath, as a woman, my heart breaks at the vilification of Rhea Chakraborty. Isn't it supposed to be 'innocent until proven guilty', or is it now 'guilty until proven innocent'?"