Almost a year after Rhea Chakraborty's arrest in the drug case connected with Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death, a Special NDPS Court on Wednesday allowed the de-freezing of her bank accounts and electronic devices seized during the investigation.
In the same case, the NCB arrested her brother and over two dozen others, including alleged drug peddlers, last year. The Chakraborty siblings were later released on bail.
Following her arrest on September 8, 2020, the NCB froze Chakraborty's bank accounts and Fixed Deposits with a notice dated September 16, 2020.
Rhea in her plea asserted that NCB froze them for no reason and that the action was unjust and prejudiced her. She added that she requires the bank accounts in order to pay her taxes,
support her lifestyle, and care for her younger brother, Showik Chakraborty.
Her plea, however, was reportedly opposed by special Public Prosecutor Atul Sarpande, who represented the NCB. He stated that if her accounts are revived, the investigation will be hampered.
He also stated that there is a possibility that the actress will use the money for drug-related activities and advocated for her application to be rejected.
Chakraborty's lawyer argued that the case would take time to resolve and that freezing the bank accounts was unnecessary.
The court noted that the investigating officer in the case stated that he has left a decision on the matter to the court's discretion. "From the officer's response, it appears
that there is no strong objection from the respondent side to unfreezing the applicant's bank account and FDs (fixed deposits)," the court said.
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It went on to say that in such cases, she is entitled to have her bank account and FDs unfrozen, subject to certain conditions.
The court ordered Rhea to provide an undertaking in the form of an affidavit that she will make the balance amount, as shown on September 16, 2020, available for necessary orders during
the pendency and conclusion of the trial.
Sarpande stated that the laboratory where Chakraborty's seized phone and laptop were sent for forensic analysis had returned them and that the investigating officer in the case had
informed her that she could collect them.
Separately, the court ordered that the electronic devices be returned after proper verification and identification and the execution of a bond of one lakh rupees.
Sushant Singh Rajpur death case:
On June 14, 2020, Bollywood actor Sushant Rajput's body was found hanging to a fan in his Mumbai apartment. Following this, several investigative agencies began probing actors suicide
including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) started looking into abetment to suicide charges against Rhea Chakraborty.
Rajput's family has accused her of abetting his suicide.
Last year, Rajput's father, KK Singh, filed a complaint with Patna Police against Chakraborty, her parents, and her brother, Showik. On the orders of the Supreme Court, the CBI took over the investigation in August 2020. Two other agencies, the Enforcement Directorate and the NCB are also looking into various aspects of the case.