Mumbai : Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said he deplored attempts to question the efficiencyof the Mumbai police in handling the probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
He said the state police were capable of probing the case, an assertion which comes in the backdrop of growing clamour for a CBI probe in the actor’s death here in June.
Thackeray lashed out at Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, saying the BJP politician had doubted the credibility of the Mumbai police in handling the case despite being a chief minister for five years.
“The opposition can even bring Interpol or followers of the Namaste Trump event into the inquiry. Devendra Fadnavis should understand that it is the same police whom he has worked with in the last five years,” Thackeray said at an event organised by a Marathi news channel.
Earlier in the day, Fadnavis said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in connection with the money laundering angle in the Sushant death case.
There is a “huge public sentiment” about handing over the case to the CBI, but the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state has been reluctant to do so, the former BJP chief minister said.
Thackeray said the Mumbai police have been “corona warriors” and many personnel in the force have died due to the infection.
To question their efficiency is an insult to them and “I condemn this,” he added.
Thackeray said if anyone has any proof related to the case, he/she can bring it to the Mumbai police.
“We will interrogate and punish the guilty. However, please don’t use this case as a Maharashtra versus Bihar issue. This is themost deplorable thing to do,” he said.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh recently said Mumbai Police are capable of handling the matter and that there was no need for a CBI probe into the case.
The Mumbai police have recorded statements of Bollywood personalities including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, film critic Rajeev Masand, actress Sanjana Sanghi, the actor’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, casting director Shanoo Sharma, filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra, and Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films.
The police have so far recorded statements of around 40 people, including those of Rajput’s family and his cook.
Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14.
A Bihar police team is probing a separate ‘abetment to suicide’ case on the basis of a complaint filed by the late actor’s father in Patna.
Speaking at the event, the CM said he wasn’t bothered about stability of his government as long as he enjoys support of the people of the state and Shiv Sainiks.
“The BJP says our government is against the mandate. Then is destabilising democratically-elected governments, a mandate,” he asked.
Thackeray, who is also Shiv Sena president, was speaking at an event organised by a Marathi news channel.
He said the BJP and the Shiv Sena have “divorced” now so the national party need not bother about what his outfit does.
“We were in a relationship with the BJP for 30 years, but they did not trust us. But, those with whom we had political differences for 30 years trusted us,” Thackeray said, referring to the NCP and the Congress, who are part of the Shiv Sena-led government.
Earlier, Rhea Chakraborty, who has been accused by Sushant Singh Rajput’s family of abetting the actor’s suicide, has broken her silence in the case, claiming “the truth shall prevail”.
Rajput, who was dating Chakraborty, was found dead at his Bandra residence on June 14.
Over a month after the 34-year-old actor’s death, his father lodged a police complaint in Patna on Tuesday against Chakraborty.
In a video statement released through her lawyers, Chakraborty said she had faith in the judiciary.
“I have immense faith in god and the judiciary. I believe that I will get justice. Even though a lot of horrible things are being said about me on the electronic media, I refrain from commenting on the advice of my lawyers as the matter is sub-judice. Satyamev Jayate, the truth shall prevail,” the actor said.
In his complaint, Rajput’s father Krishna Kumar Singh, also sought to invoke the provisions of the Mental Health Care Act, alleging that the “machinations” of Rhea and her family members had caused his son to crack up, despite a successful career in films, and ultimately drove him to suicide.
Singh has accused Chakraborty of having befriended his son in May, 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career.
The Mumbai Police is already investigating Rajput’s death.
On July 16, Chakraborty had requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to order a CBI inquiry to understand what “pressures” prompted Sushant to take the extreme step of suicide.
Addressing herself as Rajput’s “girlfriend” for the first time in public, Chakraborty said though she has “complete faith” in the government, a CBI inquiry would help bring justice to the case.
“Respected @AmitShah sir, I’m Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. It is now over a month since his sudden demise. I have complete faith in the government, however in the interest of justice, I request you with folded hands to initiate a CBI enquiry into this matter,” the 28-year-old actor wrote on Instagram alongside Rajput”s photo.
“I only want to understand what pressures prompted Sushant to take this step. Yours sincerely, Rhea Chakraborty. #satyamevajayate,” she added.
