Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead on June 14 in his flat in Bandra. While the actor's death left the world shocked and saddened, there have been lot of twists and turns in the death case. The actor's demise has left a huge void in the industry and many questions still remain unanswered. Here's all you need to know about the actor's suicide case and the investigation so far. (All photos/mid-day photographers, Yogen Shah, Pallav Pallival SSR Instagram)
Updated On: 2020-07-31 08:00 AM IST
On June 14, the entire country was shocked when the news of actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide broke. The actor was 34-year-old. At that time, Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dr. Manoj Sharma, confirmed that the actor hanged himself at his residence in Bandra. However, no suicide note was found.
A few days before the actor's death, his former manager Disha Salian reportedly committed suicide by jumping off the 14th floor of her apartment in Malad. Expressing grief over her death, Sushant Singh Rajput wrote on Instagram, "It's such devastating news. My deepest condolences to Disha's family and friends. May your soul rest in peace."
In photo: An ambulance carrying Sushant Singh Rajput's body for postmortem from his Bandra residence. Pic/Shadab Khan
Shocked and saddened by the actor's death, people from all walks of life expressed grief and disbelief. From Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to Bollywood celebrities and industrialists, everyone expressed shock at the actor's sudden death.
Before his body was sent for post-mortem, Sushant Singh Rajput's swabs were collected for a COVID-19 test. According to sources, the late actor's manager and sister told the police that he was battling with depression.
In photo: Sushant Singh Rajput's sister, Mitu Singh (left), at Cooper hospital.
When the police reached the actor's residence, they found him hanging in his room on the upper floor of his duplex flat. Post which, the police recorded the statements of Neeraj Singh, a cook living in the apartment since May 11, 2019, Keshav Bachner, another cook living in the apartment for around a year-and-a-half, housekeeper Deepesh Sawant and art director Siddharth Ramnathmurti Pithani, who lives one floor below.
According to the police officials, the last person Rajput called at 12 am the previous night was actor Mahesh Krishna Shetty, who did not answer the call. After finding the actor's body, DCP Zone IX Abhishek Trimukhe said, "An ADR has been registered and further investigation is underway. Prima facie, it looks like death due to hanging but the postmortem report is awaited to draw a definite conclusion."
Soon after the actor's death, pictures of his body were circulated online. Taking cognizance of the same, the Maharashtra police's cyber department asked people to refrain from circulating those pictures, terming it as a "disturbing trend". They also warned legal action against those circulating such pictures.
Sushant Singh Rajput's last rites were conducted at Pawan Hans crematorium in Vile Parle on June 15. Sushant's father, his two sisters, and a few of his colleagues and friends from Bollywood and television industry attended the last rites. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, few fans of the late actor also flocked the venue to catch a last glimpse of the star.
In Picture: Sushant SIngh Rajput with Priyanka Chopra
A few days later, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that Mumbai police will take into account the actor's reported clinical depression while conducting a probe into his death. The minister's statement came after media reports alleged that the late actor suffered from clinical depression because of professional rivalry.
Later, the Bandra police confirmed that the actor died due to hanging. The initial postmortem report by Cooper hospital had said that the provisional cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. Besides the Mumbai police also launched an inquiry into leaked pictures of the deceased actor on social media.
The Bandra police also began investigating the professional rivalry angle after several claims were made regarding big production houses working against the actor to keep him from getting films. The state home minister also confirmed that the police will probe the professional rivalry angle in the case.
During the investigation, one of Rajput's manager told Bandra police that the late actor cleared all his debts, paid his servants and manager, and told them that he won't be able to provide for them going forward due to financial reasons. A similar statement was given by a close servant of Rajput's to the police. The manager also said that Rajput was already depressed and Salian's death exacerbated it.
Four days after the actor passed away, his family immersed his ashes in the Ganga river.
As part of its ongoing investigation in the alleged suicide case, the Bandra police recorded statements of nearly 40 people, including filmmaker Aditya Chopra, director Sanjay Leela Bhansali, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, actress Sanjana Sanghi, actress Rhea Chakraborty and Sushant's friend Sandip Ssingh.
Besides Bollywood celebs, the police also quizzed the late actor's business manager, PR manager, three psychiatrists and one psychotherapist, whom the actor was consulting.
In photo: Rhea Chakraborty at the Bandra police station while recording her statement in June.
In Photo: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt leaves Santacruz police station after recording his statement.
Nearly 10 days after Sushant Singh Rajput's death, the actor's final postmortem report which was submitted to Mumbai police confirmed that the actor died of asphyxia due to hanging as it was mentioned in the preliminary report.
Amid the ongoing debate about insiders and outsiders in Bollywood and nepotism, the Bandra police collected CCTV footage of the actor's residential building as part of the investigation. The police also said that no CCTV cameras were installed in the actor's house.
Nearly a month after the actor's death, a road in Bihar's Purnia was named after Sushant Singh Rajput as the local civic authorities believed that it was the best way of paying tribute to the late actor. A similar request was made by the actor's fans in Mumbai, who wanted the lane where SSR stayed - near Joggers' Park in Bandra, to be renamed after him.
A month after the actor's suicide, his rumoured girlfriend and actress Rhea Chakraborty allegedly received rape and murder threats on social media. Post which, she, in a tweet tagged Home Minister Amit Shah, and sought a CBI inquiry in the late actor's death.
However, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh told mid-day that there was no need for a CBI probe and the Mumbai police is competent enough to handle such cases. Deshmukh also assured that the details of the investigation will be shared once it is completed.
After Maharashtra Women and Child Development Minister, Yashomati Thakur, took cognizance of rape threats of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, to state minister Anil Deshmukh, the Mumbai police registered an FIR against two Instagram account holders for allegedly threatening the actor. Later, the accused were arrested.
Amid the ongoing investigation, Sushant Singh Rajput's much-awaited film Dil Bechara featuring actor Sanjana Sanghi released on digital on July 24. The film left fans and celebs emotional as they saw the late actor one last time on celluloid.
A month after the late actor's final post-mortem report was submitted, the Mumbai police received his viscera report which ruled out any foul play. The viscera report of the late actor confirmed that there was no sign of poisoning, thereby refuting claims that the actor was allegedly strangulated to death.
A month later, the late actor's father filed an FIR against the actor's rumoured girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members in Patna. The case was filed under various sections, including abetment of suicide. Post which, a four-member team from Bihar arrived in Mumbai to collect the case diary and other important documents from Mumbai police.
In the FIR filed in Patna, SSR's father alleged that Rhea Chakraborty took money from the actor and instigated him to commit suicide. The actor's father also said that the doctors treating Sushant should also be examined as he suspects that the doctors may also be part of the plot.
After the FIR was filed against Rhea Chakraborty, actress Ankita Lokhande, who dated Sushant Singh Rajput for a while, shared a post reading 'Truth Wins'. After the FIR was filed, Chakraborty's lawyer filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking transfer of case filed in Patna to Mumbai. In his application, her lawyer said Rhea is ready to cooperate in the investigation and alleged that it was illegal to file a case in Bihar when the investigation is already going on in Mumbai.
The case took a huge turn with Patna police carrying out an independent inquiry. However, minister Anil Deshmukh assured that the case will be investigated by the Mumbai police. On July 30, a team of Bihar police arrived at Kotak Mahindra's Bank in Bandra West branch to collect details about the bank account of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
In another development, the late actor's family filed a caveat with the Supreme Court to not allow actress Rhea Chakraborty’s petition to be heard in the court.
Meanwhile, it was revealed that Sushant Singh Rajput was a director in two companies, along with Rhea and her brother Showik. Besides the family, the Bihar government had also filed a caveat in the Supreme Court against Rhea's petition.
The Bihar government supported Rajput's father in the apex court and opposed the transfer of FIR registered against Rhea Chakraborty from Patna to Mumbai.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also swung into action and sought details of the case from police. The agency sought a copy of the FIR to understand the bank transactions to the tune of Rs 25 crore and also sought the details from the banks about two companies owned by Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea's family.
Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case in connection with the death of Sushant Singh Rajput against Rhea and her family on the basis of the Bihar FIR filed by the late actor's father KK Singh. The FIR had said that Rhea siphoned Rs 15 crore from Sushant's bank accounts.
Once the ED filed a money laundering case, the agency started questioning Rhea, Showik, CA Ritesh Shah and Sushant's former manager Shruti Modi. Amid the on-going tussle between the Mumbai and Bihar police, the Supreme Court on August 19 ordered a CBI investigation in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's alleged suicide.
The apex court said that it was unfortunate that a gifted artist like Sushant Singh Rajput passed away in unusual circumstances and the truth in the matter should come out. The highest court also asked the Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence to the CBI. The Supreme Court's decision was welcomed by people from all walks of life.
A few days after the apex court's decision, the CBI team arrived in Mumbai and began their investigation. The agency began the investigation with the reconstruction of Sushant's suicide at his house in Mount Blanc building in Bandra. Amid the ongoing investigation of the CBI, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) filed a criminal case against Rhea and others in order to probe their alleged dealings in banned drugs.
The NCB started probing the drug angle after crucial details were shared by the Enforcement Directorate pertaining to Rhea's chats. Confirming the same, NCB DG, Rakesh Asthana, said they were looking into the drug angle as ED had shared some specific details with them.
On August 27, the NCB registered an NDPS case against Rhea and two others on the basis of an ED request to probe the drug angle in the death case. Post this, Rhea, her brother Showik, father Indrajeet were called in for questioning.
In the midst of the on-going investigation by the ED, CBI and the NCB, actress Rhea Chakraborty requested the Mumbai Police to provide protection to her and her family, saying there is a threat to their lives. Later, a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court seeking a direction to news channels and others to "postpone" the "media trial" in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide, saying it could hamper the probe.
As the agencies started investigating the drug angle, several drug peddlers allegedly went underground. An NCB official said that there are around 400 drug peddlers across Mumbai. On September 2, a drug dealer was detained by the NCB and two days later, the anti-drug agency conducted raids at the residences of Rhea and Sushant's manager Samuel Miranda. The raids were conducted a day after the Mumbai court sent alleged drug peddler Zaid Vilatra to seven-day NCB custody.
A day later, Showik and Samuel Miranda were arrested by the NCB. Later, Mumbai's Esplanade Court sent Showik and Miranda to NCB custody till September 9.
After Showik and Miranda's arrest, Sushant's cook Dipesh Sawant was also arrested into allegations of drug abuse in connection with the actor’s death in June. Post this, Rhea was summoned by the NCB to join the probe. After being grilled for three days, Rhea was arrested by the NCB.
Later, Rhea was produced before a magistrate through video-conferencing. Terming Rhea's arrest as a 'travesty of justice', her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said that Rhea was being hounded by three agencies just because she was in love with a drug addict. She was sent to 14-day judicial custody. The court also rejected her bail plea.
Rhea was charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for her alleged role in the drugs angle that emerged during the investigation.
While the Narcotics Control Bureau opposed Rhea's bail application, they did not seek her custody as they claimed to be 'satisfied' with her statements. As per the NCBs remand application, Rhea was arrested based on statements given by Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, and Deepesh Sawant. All of them confessed to procuring drugs for Rhea and Sushant, and in their statements, they also mentioned that the duo used to give them instructions.
Rhea Chakraborty was shifted from the anti-drug agency's office in South Mumbai to the Byculla jail. She has been sent in judicial custody till September 22 by a local court. The NCB had told the court that she was an "active member" of a drug syndicate and procured drugs for Sushant.
A day after her arrest, an old tweet by actress Rhea Chakraborty has gone viral on social media. Rhea's tweet about an Indian girl jailed for narcotics trafficking in November 2009 has taken netizens by surprise. "Just stepped out of a weird scary engrossing story of an Indian girl.... who served 4 n a half year jail sentence for narcotics trafficking," Rhea had tweeted.
