CBI team to reach Mumbai Monday evening, collect documents from city police

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CBI team to reach Mumbai Monday evening, collect documents from city police

A day after the Supreme Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, a team of the agency’s SIT will leave for Mumbai to initiate an investigation.

The SIT team is likely to leave for Mumbai on Thursday evening, according to CBI sources.

The source said that the team headed for Mumbai will be led by CBI’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Nupur Prasad. They will reach Mumbai with all the medical documents related to Covid-19 reports after a ruckus was faced by the Bihar police team weeks ago.

The source said that the CBI team will also collect the documents from the Mumbai Police and meet the investigation officer, who handled the Sushant case.

If required the team will also speak to the Mumbai Police DCP, with whom the family of Sushant shared a WhatsApp message in February this year citing threat to the life of the actor.

The agency officers were likely to visit Sushant’s residence in Bandra where he was found dead on June 14 and also call the first five persons who reached his flat after the death.

The team is also likely to meet Mitu Singh, sister of Sushant to gather more details.

The CBI on August 7 had taken over the probe into the death of the 34-year-old actor on the orders of the central government after the Bihar government recommended for the central agency probe.

The CBI registered a case against Sushant’s girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty, her father Indrajit, mother Sandhya, brother Show, Sushant’s ex-manager Shruti Modi and flatmate Samuel Miranda and unknown others on the basis of his father K.K. Singh’s complaint filed with the Bihar Police on July 25.

The CBI has also recorded the statement of Sushant’s father and his elder sister Rani Singh. According to agency sources, in their statement, the family has maintained that it was not suicide but a murder.

Hina Khan: Don’t see format, content changing in TV

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Hina Khan: Don’t see format, content changing in TV

Actress Hina Khan, who has been a part of television for over a decade, says she does not see the format and content of the medium changing because this is what the audience demands.

At a time when the webspace is booming with content-driven projects, why are the audience still watching shows on the small screen that seem regressive?

Hina, who essays the title role in the fifth season of the superhit TV show, “Naagin”, feels the audience does not like to watch shows on the small screen that are a “little progressive”.

“OTT platforms are there, and I am a fan of OTT platforms. I do watch a lot of shows on OTT platforms. I don’t see the content changing (on television). I don’t really see that happening because people like what they watch and this is why we get ratings — because they are happy. Is it regressive? Our show (Naagin) is completely different,” Hina told IANS.

She said that “Naagin” is Indian folklore and people love watching it because they normally don’t get to watch such shows.

“People really look up to it. Since we talk about family drama on television, they have a lot of options. Even if we try to make a new show which is a little progressive about women and women empowerment, I don’t think people will watch it or like it,” Hina said.

The actress, who made a transition into films in 2020, says the only thing she sees is that people “will now or later completely move on to iPads and their phones and watch all the soaps there”.

“Nothing is going to change in (terms of) content. When you talk about television, �Naagin’ is completely different. It is a supernatural show. Other than that I don’t see the format or content changing on television because this is the audience’s demand. It’s all (about) demand and supply. If they stop watching it, they will stop making such shows,” she concluded.

Ellie Goulding doesn’t remember much of her twenties

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Ellie Goulding doesn’t remember much of her twenties

Singer Ellie Goulding, now 33, says she spent her twenties pretty much in chaos.

“The past five years have been really poignant in my life. I spent my twenties pretty much in mad chaos. I don’t remember much of it. I think I blurred a lot of it out,” she told etonline.com.

“I’ve been around the world a few times. I played so many shows. I’ve been to cities I can’t even remember. I can’t even think of all the countries I’ve been to at this point. I was on a constant roll. I was taking it for granted because I assumed it would just be my cycle forever, touring,” she added.

After her Delirium World Tour ended in 2017, though, the singer “went through quite a few changes” that led her to take “a bunch of time off”.

“I parted ways with my management, I moved to New York. I went through quite a few changes,” she recalled.

“So I really decided to take a bunch of time off. I needed it. I needed to reflect on everything. I needed to figure out who I was without all that stuff in the background, touring and madness and celebrity-ness and all that stuff. I had to become a human that wasn’t just a touring robot,” she added.

Mahesh Shetty on CBI transfer of Sushant case: Time to put speculations to rest

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Mahesh Shetty on CBI transfer of Sushant case: Time to put speculations to rest

Actor Mahesh Shetty, a close friend of Sushant Singh Rajput has welcomed the on Wednesday morning decision of the Supreme Court, which ordered a CBI probe into the death of the late actor.

“I strongly welcome the Supreme Court’s judgment for a CBI inquiry into Sushant’s case. It is time to put the speculations to rest and get justice. Let’s have faith in the system and let the truth prevail. #CBIForSSR #Justiceforsushant Jai Shiv Shambhu,” Shetty wrote on his verified Instagram Stories page after the ruling.

The apex court on Wednesday morning ordered the CBI probe into Sushant’s death and asked Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence collected so far in the case to the investigative agency.

Mahesh, who had co-starred with Sushant years ago in the daily soap “Pavitra Rishta”, had taken to social media on August 15 to join the #globalprayers4ssr movement initiated by the late actor’s sister Shweta Singh Kirti.

Sharing a photograph of himself with folded hands on Instagram, the actor had written: “#globalprayers4ssr #bepositive #lettruthwin.

‘SC verdict one big step towards justice for Sushant’s family’

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‘SC verdict one big step towards justice for Sushant’s family’

Soon after the Supreme Court ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on Wednesday, his legal team said “it is a big day as his family has moved one big step towards justice.”

Speaking to reporters after the pronouncement of the orders, senior advocate Vikas Singh said, “It’s a very important day for us in the fight for justice for Sushant Singh Rajput as the apex court has ordered a court-monitored CBI probe.”

He further said the top court also held that the probe being carried out by the Mumbai Police was a “very initial” one.

The senior counsel said that now the Central Bureau of Investigation will take all the papers and evidence relating to the case in its possession and would begin the probe rapidly.

This verdict is a big leap for justice to be delivered to the family of the late actor, the senior counsel said.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI probe into the death of Sushant and asked the Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence collected so far in the case to the CBI.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy said the CBI will be competent to probe not only the Patna FIR but any other FIR in connection with the case.

The top court noted that the Mumbai Police have registered only an accidental death report in connection with Sushant’s death, therefore it has limited investigation powers, whereas the case registered by Bihar Police is a full-fledged FIR which has been already referred to the CBI.

The top court ensured that there was no confusion about CBI being the sole authority to investigate the mystery behind Sushant’s death and no other state police could interfere with it. The apex court order came on a plea by Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty seeking transfer of FIR registered in Patna to Mumbai.

The apex court emphasized that the probe in the case has been ordered by it and the Maharashtra government must comply and assist.

The CBI is also free to register a fresh case, if required, added the top court.

Sushant case: JD-U, RJD, LJP welcome SC order for CBI probe

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Sushant case: JD-U, RJD, LJP welcome SC order for CBI probe

The ruling Janata Dal-United, its alliance partner Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) and the principal opposition party Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court order for a CBI probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

RJD Rajya Sabha MOP and spokesperson Manoj K. Jha told IANS, “The Supreme Court has ordered a CBI probe into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput death case and we are very happy.”

He said, “Our party and Bihar’s Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav had raised the demand in the one day Assembly session and outside the Assembly for the CBI probe. And now we want the speedy probe to bring the truth out without thinking who all high and mighty are involved in the case.”

LJP chief Chirag Paswan also welcomed the Supreme Court order and said, “I thank the SC for ordering a CBI probe as it respected the feelings of crores of people. The way in which the probe has been handed over to CBI, a long demand has been fulfilled that will make clear what is the truth and the names of the people who tried to divert the case.”

Paswan said, “I hope the family will be much relieved and they will get justice soon.”

JD-U spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also said that the CBI probe into the death of the late actor will bring out the reality in front of everyone.

“This is a very big victory for justice. The SC accepted that the FIR of the Bihar Police was correct and also ordered the Mumbai Police to follow the order. It is a historic moment, as the two-state was indulged into bitter talks, which was unfortunate. But after the SC decision, the feelings of the crores of people have been respected by the Supreme Court.”

The reactions came soon after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a CBI probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and asked Mumbai Police to hand over all evidence collected so far in the case to CBI.

Justice Hrishikesh Roy said the CBI will be competent to probe not only Patna FIR but any other FIR in connection with the case.

The top court noted that the Mumbai Police has registered only an accidental death report in connection with Rajput’s death, therefore it has limited investigation powers, whereas the case registered by Bihar Police is a full-fledged FIR which has been already referred to CBI.

After Rahul quit, Priyanka was ready to work under non-Gandhi chief

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After Rahul quit, Priyanka was ready to work under non-Gandhi chief

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was ready to work under a non-Gandhi president after Rahul Gandhi’s resignation following the defeat in the General Election in 2019. Rahul Gandhi also had said that the party should elect a president outside the family, but in August last year, Sonia Gandhi was appointed the interim president of the Congress.

The claim has been made in a book — ‘India Tomorrow: Conversations with the Next Generation of Political Leaders’ written by Pradeep Chibber and Harsh Shah.

Priyanka, in the book, was quoted as saying: “If there were to be another party President, he would be my boss”. “If he tells me tomorrow that he doesn’t want me in Uttar Pradesh but wants me to be in Andaman and Nicobar (Islands), then I would jolly well go to Andaman and Nicobar.”

While the book claimed that Priyanka Gandhi during her interview said that she fully is in consent with Rahul Gandhi when he says a non-Gandhi should be appointed the Congress president. “I think that the party should find its own path also,” Priyanka said.

After Sonia Gandhi completed a year, there is a demand in the party that there should be an election for the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and a permanent party head be appointed.

However, sources in the party said that this interview was given last year just after Rahul Gandhi had resigned but the situation is different now.

Sacked party spokesperson Sanjay Jha had claimed: “It is estimated that around 100 Congress leaders (including MPs), distressed at the state of affairs within the party, have written a letter to Sonia Gandhi, the Congress President, asking for a change in political leadership and transparent elections in the CWC.” The party, however, has denied the existence of such a letter or having received it.

The Congress on August 11 had hinted that Rahul Gandhi may not be reluctant to take over as the party president in the near future even as it credited him with resolving the Rajasthan crisis.

Responding to a question during a virtual press conference, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, when reminded that Rahul Gandhi had refused to take the post in the past, replied: “I don’t think either I or you or any of us have recently spoken to him (Rahul Gandhi) on the issue.” He insisted that the reason for Rahul’s resignation last year was on “moral grounds”, taking responsibility for the party’s defeat in the General Election.

“I don’t want to comment on the future, I am certain good things will happen,” added Surjewala, hinting that Rahul is not reluctant to take over as the party president.

The Congress leader said that all the Congress workers want Rahul Gandhi as head of the party not because he is Rahul Gandhi, but for the way he has shown “courage” to take on the Modi government.

The clamour to bring back Rahul Gandhi has become louder after the issue was raised by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs in July when Sonia Gandhi as interim party chief completed one year in office.

The Congress also gave full credit to Rahul Gandhi for the resolution of the Rajasthan turmoil. The party underlined that it was his ability to bring together opposing Congress factions.

Rhea Chakraborty denies ever meeting Aaditya Thackeray

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Rhea Chakraborty denies ever meeting Aaditya Thackeray

Actress Rhea Chakraborty has denied ever meeting Aaditya Thackeray, in a statement issued on Monday through her lawyer Satish Mandhinde.

“The comments made at the last hearing before the Hon’ble Supreme Court on the 11th of August 2020, make it evident that this has become more about politics than the truth. Unwanted and irrelevant submissions are being made. A number of politicians (are) taking advantage of this case on the eve of elections in Bihar. Rhea does not know and has never met Aaditya Thackeray till today. Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise, though she has heard of him as a leader of the Shiv Sena,” Manshinde said on behalf of his client, Rhea.

Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray is Cabinet Minister of Tourism and Environment in the Government of Maharashtra, and an MLA of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Mumbai. His name has been come up in unsubstantiated allegations pertaining to the death of Rhea’s boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Manshinde also added that Rhea knows and has met actor Dino Morea socially as he is her senior in the film industry, and nothing more. Dino’s name has come up in the case because it was alleged that the actor hosted the June 13 party in which Sushant was present, a day before the latter’s death. Dino has earlier denied hosting any such party.

Sushant’s sister molested Rhea after getting drunk, which lead to rift between siblings: Lawyer

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Sushant’s sister molested Rhea after getting drunk, which lead to rift between siblings: Lawyer

The legal team of Rhea Chakraborty has detailed the entire incident pertaining to the previous allegation made by the actress that it was Priyanka, sister of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who had molested her after getting too drunk, and the incident had, in turn, created a rift between the siblings.

Rhea’s lawyer Satish Maneshinde detailed the whole incident in the fresh statement.

“In the initial months of their relationship, when Rhea had visited Sushant’s house, his sister Priyanka and her husband Siddharth were living with him. One night, in and around April 2019, Rhea and Priyanka had gone out to a party. Priyanka consumed copious amounts of alcohol and was behaving inappropriately with men as well as women at that party. So, Rhea insisted that they return to Sushant’s home. Upon returning, Sushant and his sister continued drinking alcohol while Rhea retired for the night as she had a shoot the next morning. Rhea was asleep in Sushant’s room when she suddenly awoke to find Priyanka had got into bed with her and was groping her. Rhea was extremely shocked and demanded that she leave the room immediately. Subsequently, Rhea herself left the house. Thereafter, Rhea informed Sushant as to what had transpired, and Sushant got into an argument with his sister regarding the same. That due to the aforesaid incident, the relationship between Sushant’s family and Rhea had been strained since inception. Even after his death when a list of 20 people was made to attend the funeral, Rhea’s name was not included in the list and hence excluded from attending the funeral,” said Manshinde.

About how Rhea and Sushant came to know each other and the actress’s subsequent departing from the late actor’s home, the lawyer added: “Rhea and Sushant were known to each other over the past several years as they were both working in the Indian film industry. Rhea and Sushant had maintained a cordial friendship and would occasionally communicate with each other. In April 2019, Rhea and Sushant had attended a party hosted by the film fraternity and shortly thereafter they began dating each other. Even though they spent a lot of time at each other’s homes, they officially moved in together in December 2019 and live at Mont Blanc, Bandra, till Rhea left on the 8th of June 2020.”

Talking about the allegations against Rhea, he said: “It is total nonsense and an afterthought to make allegations after a period of 40 days, the manner in which it has been made before Bihar Police. No allegations whatsoever were made till 27th July 2020 by anybody in the family before Mumbai Police or to any authority. Their statements were recorded by police in Mumbai. They are educated and have an IPS officer OP Singh in the family. The allegations are totally concocted and fabricated for ulterior purposes.”

Manshinde continued: “Rhea denies all allegations of abetment of suicide, misappropriation of funds and others or otherwise. The Mumbai Police and the Enforcement Directorate have been handed over all of Rhea’s financial documents, which clearly show the falsity of such allegations. She has not received a single transfer from Sushant’s accounts. All her Income Tax Returns have been examined by police as well as Enforcement Directorate (ED). Neither of them has found anything incriminating against,” he added.

Sushant was found dead in his home in Mumbai on June 14. Before his death, Maneshinde claims that the actor kept on trying to reach his family.

“Sushant had been calling his family, informing them of his decision to move out of Mumbai and requesting them to come and meet him. After several days of Sushant calling and crying over the phone, his sister Mitu agreed to come live with him on the 8th of June 2020. Due to this development, Sushant requested Rhea to live with her parents for the time being. Rhea had been suffering from her own anxiety issues and often endured panic attacks. Sushant’s conduct also aggravated these conditions. Even though Rhea was desirous of seeing her family, she was not at all comfortable with leaving Sushant. On the very same day,8th June 2020, Rhea had arranged to have a therapy session of her own with Dr. Susan Walker and requested Sushant if she could leave after the session. However, Sushant told her to leave immediately before his sister Mitu arrived. Thus Rhea reluctantly left and informed Sushant to let her or her brother know about anything he required or in case he needed to talk,” Manshinde claimed.

It was shared that Mumbai Police and ED have investigated Rhea’s relationship with Sushant and her financial status at great length, and “till today nothing incriminating has been found against her”.

Manshinde also said that “Rhea does not know and has never met Aaditya Thackeray till today. Neither has she ever spoken to him telephonically or otherwise, though she has heard of him as a leader of the Shiv Sena”.

About Rhea’s alleged interaction with actor Dino Morea, the lawyer clarified that the actress knows and has met Dino socially as he is her senior in the film industry.

Continuing on the media overdrive about the case, Manshinde said: “The media is requested not to speculate its own theories and make unsubstantiated claims. She has remained silent to such allegations. Her silence should not be mistaken for weakness. The truth will remain the same,” said her lawyer.

Rhea, as put by her lawyer, would like the truth of the matter to be revealed by “virtue of a fair and impartial investigation”.

“She has admitted in her petition to the SC that she sent a message to Amit Shah to order a CBI investigation. She has also informed the Supreme Court that if the court transfers the case to CBI she had no objection. What she has challenged is the illegal registration and investigation of Bihar Police without jurisdiction, and transfer to CBI of an illegal investigation. Unless the Maharashtra Government consents to a CBI investigation, the case cannot be transferred to CBI. Instead, the Bihar Government ought to have transferred the investigation to Mumbai Police as per the notification issued by the Union Government,” the lawyer said.

He also stated that Rhea will not submit to an “illegal investigation”.

“My client has not shied away from cooperating with any investigating agency to date, but she is entitled to a fair and impartial investigation by an agency that has jurisdiction to investigate the case. The manner in which the proceedings were instituted and being conducted in Bihar made it appear unlikely that she would receive fair treatment,” said Maneshinde.

Witnesses being threatened: SSR’s cousin

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In the case of the alleged suicide by actor Sushant Singh Rajput, his family is now apprehensive about evidence being destroyed and witnesses being threatened.

Sushant’s cousin Neeraj Kumar Bablu, a BJP MLA, said here that the evidence, in this case, was being erased and the witnesses could be eliminated. He said the witnesses were facing threats and demanded that they should be provided protection.

Neeraj Kumar told IANS on Tuesday: “We all hope that the Supreme Court will soon direct the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the matter and the investigation will go in the right direction and everything will come to the fore.”

He said: “This is not only our desire but that of the entire country.”

When asked about the destruction of evidence, in this case, he said: “Attempts are being made to erase the evidence. This apprehension is also being expressed by the media.”

“Maharashtra Police should take care of it.”

He felt that something untoward could happen to the witnesses and said that efforts were being made to intimidate them. The Mumbai Police were not cooperating in this matter. This is now known to everybody and we demand that protection be given to the witnesses, he added.

Even two months after Sushant’s alleged suicide, no significant progress has been made in the investigation of the case. On July 15, Sushant’s father K. K.Singh had a case registered at the Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna. Later, the Bihar government decided to recommend handing over the investigation to the CBI.

Rhea Chakraborty, the main accused in the case registered in Patna, has approached the Supreme Court to transfer the case to Mumbai.

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