The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has moved the Supreme Court challenging the bail granted to Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case by the Bombay High Court. 

The bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde has listed the matter for hearing on March 18.

In October last year, the Bombay High Court had rejected the arguments of the NCB point-by-point including the key allegation that she (Rhea) was part of a “drug syndicate” and was “harbouring” actor Sushant Singh Rajput. 

The NCB had opposed the bail plea before the High Court and had submitted that the accused were involved in crimes “worse than murder or culpable homicide” and that the case should be a “lesson” for others.

The Bombay High Court granted bail to Rhea Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda and Dipesh Sawant in the Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) case registered by the NCB for allegedly procuring drugs for Rajput.

Chakraborty and the other accused have been accused for offences under Section 8(c), 20(b)(ii), 22, 27 A, 28, 29 of the NDPS Act. Earlier, their bail applications had been rejected by the Magistrate’s Court and Special NDPS Court after which they had moved the Bombay High Court.

Rhea’s Counsel Satish Maneshinde had argued before the Court that the NCB had no jurisdiction to handle the case since the Supreme Court directed the CBI to investigate the cases relating to Sushant’s death. 

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appearing for NCB on the other hand had argued that recovery of contraband was not a precondition to prove an NDPS offence. It was further argued that if a person fails to disclose the drug consumption habit by another, that will amount to ‘harbouring of the offender’.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is separately investigating a case against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting the Sushant’s suicide.

Read Also: Kerala High Court directs NCC to allow transwoman join corps, change said rules within 6 months

New Delhi (ILNS): The Supreme Court today refused to entertain a plea filed by advocate Puneet Dhanda who sought a court monitored CBI investigation into the death of Bollywood Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s former manager Disha Salian. The court asked him to approach the Bombay High Court. 

The petitioner claimed that the deaths of Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput are interconnected as they occurred under suspicious circumstances.

“Why don’t you go to Bombay High Court? They know the case and they will take an informed decision and then you may come here if there is any difficulty,” said the bench headed by CJI S. A. Bobde, and Justices A. S. Bopanna & V. Ramasubramanian.

Earlier, on October 12, the case was heard. According to the petition,”…after the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, various rumours and conspiracy theories have been linked between the deaths of Disha Salian and Sushant Singh Rajput, because both died in suspicious circumstances and at the peak of their successful professional career.”

Disha Salian, 28, died on June 8 after falling from the 14th floor of a residential building in Malad (West), Mumbai.

A few days later, on June 14, the 34-year-old actor was found hanging from the ceiling of his apartment in Bandra, Mumbai. The Mumbai police was initially investigating the case of Sushant’s death.

Read Also: Supreme Court puts on hold Justice Lokur Committee on stubble burning as govt promises comprehensive legislation

Later in August, the Supreme Court handed it over to the CBI. The petition said that if the apex court is not satisfied with the Mumbai police after observing the investigation report then it should be transferred to CBI.