Flared emotions, media trial, ‘dirty’ politics make Sushant probe look murky

If the life and unfortunate death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput were to be made into a film today, the producer would struggle to find a scriptwriter. For, the story is getting more and more intricate from the day Sushant was found dead in his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14.

Getting a dialogue writer would be easy though because it seems every Tom, Dick and Harry has an opinion on what must have happened, who must have done what, why and how. In the midst of all the foggy details that keep pouring in every day, the average Sushant Singh fan feels deeply saddened, enraged and confused.

We, at The Federal, intend to offer some help by putting together all the details of the case so far and help you make some sense of the drama that is playing out in the open.

June 14  – Body found, but no suicide note

Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his Bandra home in Mumbai. Some of his friends were at home when his body was discovered. Initial police reports confirmed he was suffering from depression for the past six months and was undergoing psychiatric treatment. A week before, Sushant’s former manager Disha Salian committed suicide, when she jumped off a 14-storey building in Mumbai’s Malad area.

June 15 –  Not convinced with suicide claim, fans get emotional

A day after, Mumbai police confirmed that no suicide note was found. A lack of clarity on the reason why Sushant must have killed self is one of the most important reasons why the case has become so murky with new angles coming out in the open almost every day.

The same day, Sushant’s team shared a message for his fans: “It pains us to share that Sushant Singh Rajput is no longer with us. We request his fans to keep him in their thoughts and celebrate his life, and his work like they have done so far. We request the media to help us maintain privacy at this moment of grief.”

Sushant’s fans, however, were too emotionally charged up and took to social media to express their grief and awe. Unfortunately, some of them got into a speculation mode and started cooking up stories, which has made things worse for all those who were close to Sushant. Eventually, Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty got dragged into the controversy and has now been named in an FIR.

July 8 – Mumbai police at work, nepotism charges and cry for CBI probe

The Mumbai police quoted the post-mortem report to support its claim that the late actor had indeed committed suicide. However, Sushant’s family, fans, opposition leaders in Maharashtra and Bihar police alleged abetment to suicide.

They saw red when conflicting investigation reports started pouring in. Celebs like Kangana Ranaut dug out the favouritism, nepotism charges in Bollywood once again, though Sushant’s ex Ankita Lokhande rubbished her claim. Several actors and directors, including Karan Johar and Salman Khan, were virtually declared guilty.

It was time everyone looked to CBI to intervene and with this started a war of words and egos between Mumbai police and Maharashtra government on one side and their respective Bihar counterparts.

August 2 – Questions raised on post-mortem report; media plays along

Sushant’s viscera report became viral on social media and it opened the gates for another round of debate, speculations and wild allegations. Gossip mongers even demanded reinvestigating the suicidal death of Sushant’s former manager Disha Salian, trying to establish a connection between the two deaths. On August 3, Commissioner of Police Mumbai, Param Bir Singh said that the late actor was upset about the media linking him with Disha Salian’s death.

Times Now claimed that Sushant Singh had searched ‘painless death’ on the internet before dying. Several other news channels got into personal and unsubstantiated details of the actor’s life.

August 3 – Mumbai, Bihar police come face to face

Vinay Tiwari, an IPS officer from Patna, who reached Mumbai to lead the police team investigating the case, was ‘forcibly quarantined’ by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the Bihar police claimed. Director-General of Bihar Police, IPS officer Gupteshwar Pandey claimed that Tiwari was forcibly quarantined and was not even provided accommodation in the IPS mess.

August 4 – Bihar Govt takes on Mumbai police; Shiv Sena smells conspiracy

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asked for a CBI probe in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case. His demand was backed by the entire opposition in Bihar and fans, who had by now lost faith in Mumbai police’s ability to crack the matter.  Meanwhile, some critics claim the Bihar government is playing politics with assembly elections likely to be held soon.

Shiv Sena leader and son of Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Aaditya Thackeray, too got dragged into the controversy as rumour-mongers claimed junior Thackeray’s hand in the death. Aaditya Thackeray issued a statement on August 4, rubbishing the claims and calling it all “dirty politics.”

Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut has termed Bihar police’s parallel probe as “a conspiracy against the Maharashtra Government”. Raut wrote in Sena’s mouthpiece “Saamna”: “Sushant was a Mumbaikar for last few years. Mumbai gave him name and fame and Bihar didn’t stand by him during his struggle. Why should the Bihar government interfere in this matter?”

Meanwhile… Sushant’s therapist speaks about actor’s mental health

In an interview to Barkha Dutt, Sushant Singh Rajput’s therapist Susan Walker opened up on the late actor’s medical condition. “Sushant was suffering from bipolar disorder. Symptoms can include severe anxiety. Mental health is no different to cancer or diabetes. Appalling stigma around mental health makes it difficult for patients,” Susan said.

Susan also defended Rhea Chakraborty, who she said was a constant support for Sushant and even “gave him the courage to seek help”.

August 5 – CBI steps in, finally! Rhea moves SC

The Centre relented to constant pressure and allowed for CBI investigation into the matter. The apex court termed Sushant a “talented and gifted actor” who passed away under “unfortunate circumstances” and asked the Maharashtra government to file its response on the matter of deciding the jurisdiction to probe the case. 

Meanwhile, Supreme Court heard actor Rhea Chakraborty’s plea seeking transfer of the FIR from Patna to Mumbai and stay on an investigation by the Bihar police on allegations of abetment to suicide.

The court also took the Mumbai Police to task for quarantining IPS officer, Vinay Tiwari, who was leading the team of investigators from the Bihar Police in Mumbai.

August 7 – Rhea faces all-round attack

The CBI filed an FIR against Rhea Chakraborty, her family members and Sushant’s manager. Sushant’s father KK Singh charged Rhea with siphoning off her son’s money. Rhea recorded her statement to the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering case linked to the actor’s death.

In an interview to India Today on Thursday 30, Sushant’s chartered accountant Sandeep Shridhar refuted claims of any major money transfers between the late actor and Rhea Chakraborty.  Sridhar also told Mumbai Police that Sushant did not have the amount that is being claimed by his family.

August 7 – Centre had a say too

As per an NDTV report, the Union government has said in the Supreme Court that it had to add its point of view in the petition filed by actor Rhea Chakraborty challenging the case registered against her in Bihar.

August 11 – Sushant’s father files affidavit

Sushant Singh Rajput’s father KK Singh filed a counter-affidavit before the Supreme Court against Rhea Chakraborty’s plea to transfer the probe to Mumbai.

…Meanwhile, Rhea moves SC alleging media trial

On August 10, Rhea filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, alleging media trial, who she claimed, had already pronounced her guilty for the death of the actor.

August 13 – Probe in Patna or Mumbai? SC reserves verdict

The Supreme Court reserved its judgment on Rhea Chakraborty’s plea for the transfer of the probe from Patna to Mumbai. Instead, the apex court asked all parties to file brief written notes of all such precedent judgments by Thursday.

Was Sushant Singh Rajput under depression? Did Rhea Chakraborty abet his suicide? Was the late actor a victim of nepotism?  These and many more questions will keep doing the rounds for some more time. What the case has definitely brought to fore is Indian media’s persistent habit to try and play judge and the common man’s inability to separate reason from emotion.