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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court quashed the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation against Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik Chakraborty, and their father on Thursday.

The LOC had been issued by the CBI in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case.

The division bench of the high court, consisting of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Manjusha Deshpande, quashed the LOC that had been issued against them in 2020.

Rhea had filed a petition in the high court to quash the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against her, citing difficulties in international travel and the hindrance it posed to fulfilling her work commitments.

In earlier proceedings, the high court questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the issuance of the LOC solely based on an FIR.

The bench expressed that it wasn't a case of financial fraud, where understanding the nature of transactions might take years.

During earlier hearings, the division bench noted that three and a half years had elapsed, emphasizing that the chargesheet should have been presented by now.

In December 2023, the high court temporarily suspended the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Chakraborty for a week, allowing her to travel abroad for a promotional event for a company.

Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead on June 14, 2020, at his residence in Bandra. Initially, the investigation was carried out by the Mumbai Police, which filed a report indicating accidental death.

However, Rajput's father lodged an FIR in Bihar, alleging that Rajput's girlfriend and her family abetted his suicide.

Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the Supreme Court, which is currently investigating the matter.

The Enforcement Directorate is also conducting an investigation into Rhea and her family over allegations of money laundering.

Furthermore, the Narcotics Control Bureau is probing claims that Rhea was involved in drug consumption and may have provided drugs to Rajput.

Rhea was arrested by the NCB under the NDPS Act in September 2020 but was later granted bail by the high court a month later.

Disha Salian was found dead on June 8, 2020, after falling from the 14th floor of a residential flat in Malad. The Mumbai Police had registered an Accidental Death Report in her case.

Case title: Rhea Chakraborty vs CBI