Rhea Chakraborty appears before ED in money-laundering case related to Sushant Singh Rajput’s death

Actress Rhea Chakraborty appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of the Union finance ministry in Mumbai today after the agency rejected her appeal to postpone the session.

Chakraborty was summoned for questioning by the directorate in connection with a money-laundering case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

There was some ambiguity about Chakraborty’s whereabouts since last month which has now ended with her visit to the ED office.

Chakraborty’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde told reporters, “Rhea Chakraborty is a law-abiding citizen. In view of the fact that the ED has informed the media that the request to postpone the attendance is rejected, she has appeared in the ED at the appointed time and date.”

Chakraborty had requested postponement of the summons until the Supreme Court had heard a case related to transfer from Patna to Mumbai of the first information report (FIR) filed by Rajput’s father KK Singh.

Meanwhile, after the Centre transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the agency has registered an FIR against Chakraborty and her family.

Maneshinde reacted strongly to the development and called it ‘illegal’. “The Bihar government transferred a case which it had no jurisdiction to investigate to the CBI instead of the Mumbai police, which is the legal position. The Hon'ble Supreme Court is seized of the issue pursuant to the transfer petition filed by Rhea Chakraborty. The SC has directed all parties to file their replies and the Mumbai police are directed to place the report of investigation,” he said in a statement.

Maneshinde added, “Pending the proceedings, the CBI has registered and continued the illegality which was perpetrated at the hands of the Bihar police. The CBI being a premier investigative agency in the country should desist from taking any further steps pending the SC proceedings."

Maneshinde said that unless the Maharashtra government agreed to the CBI investigating the case, it would be "totally illegal and beyond any known legal principles" for the agency to take up the matter. Moreover, he said, such action would hurt the country's federal structure.

Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai, on 14 June.