The family of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput has decided to legally contest the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) closure report on his death, describing the agency’s findings as “incomplete” and “flimsy.”
The decision comes after the CBI concluded that there was no evidence of foul play in Rajput’s death and that none of the accused including actor Rhea Chakraborty were responsible for his suicide in June 2020.
According to the report, accessed by Hindustan Times, the CBI stated that there was no proof that Rajput had been confined, threatened, or defrauded, nor that Rhea had misappropriated his money or possessions.
However, Rajput’s family and their lawyer, Advocate Varun Singh, have rejected the findings outright, calling the closure report a superficial exercise that they claim failed to deliver justice.
“This is nothing but an eyewash. If the CBI really wanted to come out with the truth, it would have submitted all supporting case documents, including chats, technical records, witness statements, and medical files along with the final report, which they have not done,” said Advocate Singh. “We will file a protest petition against this closure report, which is based on a shoddy investigation,” he added.
The family claims that the CBI has left major gaps in its probe, particularly regarding the financial aspect of the case. Advocate Singh criticised the agency for making assertions without submitting supporting evidence. “Simply saying Sushant Singh’s account has not been used to take out funds is not enough. The CBI should have provided the bank statement to back its claim. It’s a flimsy report that won’t stand in a court of law,” he said.
The CBI had filed two closure reports in March this year, one concerning the FIR lodged by Rajput’s father, K.K. Singh, in Patna, which accused Rhea Chakraborty and her family of abetting his son’s suicide and misusing his finances, and another addressing a counter-complaint filed by Rhea against Rajput’s sisters in Mumbai.
“Investigation revealed that Sushant had committed suicide. None of the accused persons had lived or stayed with him between June 8 and June 14, 2020, the day he was found hanging in his Bandra flat. Rhea and her brother Showik left the house on June 8 and did not return. Sushant had spoken to Showik on June 10 through WhatsApp, but there were no conversations with Rhea between June 8 and June 14.”
The report further notes that Shruti Modi, Rajput’s former manager, had stopped visiting him in February due to a leg injury, while Meetu Singh, his sister, stayed with him from June 8 to June 12, just days before his death.
Addressing allegations of financial exploitation, the CBI report stated that Rhea took away only her Apple laptop and Apple watch, both of which had been gifts from Rajput, when she left his home on June 8. “No evidence has emerged during the probe about any property dishonestly taken out of the possession of Sushant without his knowledge by Rhea or any other accused person,” the report noted.
The agency added that Rajput’s finances were managed by his chartered accountant and lawyer, and that expenses incurred on Rhea, including during a 2019 Europe trip, were made on Rajput’s instructions. “He even told Sidharth Pithani (Sushant’s flatmate) that Rhea was part of the family. Therefore, expenses on Rhea cannot be brought under Section 420 of the IPC. Further, there is no evidence to suggest that any movable property was transferred to Rhea through deceit or inducement,” the closure report stated, quoting a second officer.
With the family preparing to move court, Advocate Varun Singh confirmed they will file a protest petition challenging the CBI’s findings and seeking a fresh and transparent probe. The matter related to the closure report is expected to come up for hearing before a Patna court on December 20.
Rajput was found dead in his Mumbai apartment on 14 June 2020, triggering nationwide outrage and a series of investigations involving the Mumbai Police, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, and the CBI.
