A special court in Mumbai on Friday rejected the bail requests of Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Showik, arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with a drug case linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.
Special Judge GB Gurao, who is presiding over cases under the Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), also denied bail requests from four other defendants in the case. All the accused are in judicial custody.
Here’s what attorneys for NCB and Rhea Chakraborty had to say:
* Special prosecutor Atul Sarpande, who appeared for NCB, welcomed the decision.
Sarpande said that the court, while rejecting the bail statements, has accepted the prosecution’s arguments that the investigation is at a crucial stage, according to the PTI news agency.
* Rhea’s attorney, Satish Maneshinde, said they would decide the further course of action after reading the court order.
* “Once we obtain a copy of the order approved by the NDPS special court, we will decide next week on the further course of action and how to approach the Bombay High Court,” said the PTI.
* Rhea had stated in her bail statement that she was falsely involved in the case. She had also retracted her statement recorded by NCB when she was questioned for three days, claiming that the agency had coerced her into making self-incriminating statements.
* NCB had vigorously objected to her bail requests and said Rhea knew that the Rajput used drugs, but continued to acquire and make payments for drugs.
* The agency had said that although the amount of prohibited drugs seized in the case was small, it was still a commercial amount and was worth Rs 185,200.
* “Rhea Chakraborty and Showik Chakraborty financed and organized drugs for Rajputs and according to their instructions,” the NCB had said in its affidavit in response to bail requests.
* NCB added that according to the statement given by Rajput’s co-defendant and domestic helper Dipesh Sawant, he used to obtain drugs from other defendants in the case on the instructions of Rajput and Rhea.
* “Financial transactions were handled by Rhea and sometimes Rajputs. Dipesh Sawant used to purchase drugs together with co-defendant Samuel Miranda (former Rajput house manager) for the consumption of Sushant Singh Rajput, ”the affidavit reads.
* NCB had further said that if the defendants are released on bail, they can alter the evidence and try to intimidate key witnesses in the case.
(With contributions from the agency)
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