Published 11:16 IST, August 19th 2020
Supreme Court allows CBI probe in Sushant Singh case; Mumbai police told to cooperate
In breaking development the Supreme Court on Wednesday has pronounced the verdict giving nod for the investigation to be conducted by CBI in Sushant Singh case
In a breaking development amid the global and relentless #CBIForSSR campaign, the Supreme Court on Wednesday has pronounced the verdict giving nod for the investigation to be conducted by CBI. The Supreme Court has directed the Mumbai Police to cooperate with the CBI during the investigation.
According to Republic sources, Maharashtra Government councel asked for the liberty to challenge the transfer of investigation to CBI. The Supreme Court refused the argument saying it is a court ordered CBI investigation now, giving no scope for the Maharashtra Government to challenge it. The CBi is awaiting the copy of the order to examine it and proceed accordingly.
A single judge bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy upheld the Bihar government's order to transfer the investigation to CBI. Moreover Justice Roy held that the Bihar Police had jurisdiction to register FIR at the complaint of Sushant's father.
The orders were dictated within minutes of the single-judge bench assembling. Justice Roy had earlier held two hearings into Rhea Chakraborty's plea seeking transfer of the case from Patna to Mumbai. Former ASG Maninder Singh, appearing for the Bihar government, had submitted that Bihar CM had not interfered in the case and added that the recommendation for a CBI probe was based on the advice of the concerned authorities. "In Maharashtra, there may be political pressure but not in Bihar. What are we hiding in this case? The Maharashtra Police have not cooperated with the Bihar Police in this case," Maninder Singh had told the apex court.
Subramanian Swamy tweets:
All proceedings brought under CBI
"One factor which however is considered relevant for the induction of the Central Agency is to retain public confidence in the impartial working of the State agencies. It is not for the accused to choose the investigating agency," it observed.
The Supreme Court also said that the ongoing investigation by the CBI is held to be lawful. "In the event, a new case is registered at Mumbai on the same issue, in the fitness of things, it would be appropriate if the latter case too, gets investigated by the same agency, on the strength of this Court’s order. Such enabling order will make it possible for the CBI to investigate the new case, avoiding the rigours of Section 6 of the DSPE Act, requiring consent from the State of Maharashtra," it said.
"The actor Sushant Singh Rajput was a talented actor in the Mumbai film world and died well before his full potential could be realised. His family, friends and admirers are keenly awaiting the outcome of the investigation so that all the speculations floating around can be put to rest. Therefore a fair, competent and impartial investigation is the need of the hour. The expected outcome then would be, a measure of justice for the Complainant, who lost his only son," the verdict reads.
'Now the departed will also sleep well'
The Supreme Court said that for the petitioner (Rhea Chakraborty) too, it will be the "desired justice as she herself called for a CBI investigation." "The dissemination of the real facts through unbiased investigation would certainly result in justice for the innocents, who might be the target of vilification campaign. Equally importantly, when integrity and credibility of the investigation is discernible, the trust, faith and confidence of the common man in the judicial process will resonate. When truth meets sunshine, justice will not prevail on the living alone but after Life’s fitful fever, now the departed will also sleep well. Satyameva Jayate," the Supreme Court said.
Updated 14:10 IST, August 19th 2020