The "battle of wits" between two Indian states, Maharashtra and Bihar, about an investigation into the sudden death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has turned ugly, with Bihar police alleging that an officer sent to Mumbai to conduct the probe was forcibly put on quarantine by civic authorities and even denied accommodation.
Chief of Bihar Police, Gupteshwar Pandey in a Sunday tweet said that an elite police officer sent to lead the probe team in Mumbai was "forcibly quarantined by BMC (the Brihan Mumbai Corporation)", the civic agency of Mumbai.
IPS officer Binay Tiwari reached Mumbai today from patna on official duty to lead the police team there but he has been forcibly quarantined by BMC officials at 11pm today.He was not provided accommodation in the IPSMess despite request and was staying in a guest house in Goregaw pic.twitter.com/JUPFRpqiGE
— IPS Gupteshwar Pandey (@ips_gupteshwar) August 2, 2020
Maharashtra ruled out any probe by the federal Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Maharashtra's Home Minister Anil Deshmukh claimed that the case was being used for "political gain" and "condemned the demand" for a CBI probe.
...the offence is committed. I condemn the demand for the @itsSSR case to be handed to #CBI.
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) August 2, 2020
The case is now being politcised for political gains. #MaharashtraPolice is inquiring into the case professionally & are competent in digging out the truth, leaving no stone unturned!
Deshmukh questioned the jurisdiction of Bihar police to investigate the death of the actor, which happened in Mumbai. He stated that Maharastra police were working on the case and were "competent in digging out the truth".
@MumbaiPolice already began investigating allegations about @itsSSR's unfortunate alleged suicide. Even if Bihar Police registered an offence in Patna, under Ch. 12 & 13 of the #CrPC it has to be investigated,inquired & tried by police & courts within whose jurisdiction...
— ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) August 2, 2020
The actor’s father filed a complaint in Patna, Bihar on 25 July against six people, including actress and Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, on charges of assisting the suicide and fraud. Based on the complaint, Bihar police launched an investigation.
Deputy Chief of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi and state president from the federal ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sanjay Jaiswal also wanted a CBI probe into the case, as they raised questions about the way the investigations were being carried out by Mumbai police.
Rajput’s family also levelled allegations against his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of cheating and mentally harassing him.
Mumbai police have not come out with any conclusive evidence for his supposed suicide, but said the actor was depressed and was also on medication for it. They have also recorded statements by several persons from the Bollywood film industry.
Meanwhile, an unverified video has emerged alleging the Bollywood actor was murdered. The clip shared by a doctor (not connected with the Sushant Singh Rajput case) claimed there were assault marks on the actor's body.
Shocking relevations made on Sushant’s case!
— Dr.Minakshi Mishra (@savethesaviours) August 2, 2020
PS: Sensitive Content. pic.twitter.com/r0orseM72b
Sushant Singh Rajput, who won acclaim for his role in the 2016 biopic about the life story of then-Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was found dead at his home in Mumbai on 14 June.
