Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: Bombay High Court Quashes LOCs Against Rhea Chakraborty, Brother Showik And Father
Rhea Chakraborty has a huge sigh of relief as Bombay HC cancels LOCs against her and brother Showik along with father in Sushant Singh Rajput case
The Bombay High Court has invalidated the look-out circulars (LOCs) issued against actor Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik, and her father, a retired army veteran. These LOCs were originally issued by the CBI in the aftermath of the Sushant Singh Rajput case. An LOC typically imposes restrictions on an individual's foreign travel without the prerequisite approval from the court. Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Manjusha Deshpande were responsible for pronouncing this significant order. ALSO READ: Rhea Chakraborty Opens Up About The Thoughts She Had Before Going To Jail In Sushant Singh Rajput’s Case, Says ‘My Life Was On Display’
The look-out circulars (LOCs) had previously impeded Rhea, Showik, and their father Indrajit from travelling abroad without the court's prior approval. In a recent development, the court scrutinized the CBI's stance, questioning the rationale behind issuing LOCs based solely on the registration of an FIR. Additionally, the court raised concerns regarding jurisdiction, noting that the initial FIR against Rhea was filed by Sushant's family in Patna before the CBI assumed control of the case. ALSO READ: Rhea Chakraborty Opens About Her Jail Experience, During Sushant Singh Rajput’s Suicide Case; Actress Says, ‘Mental Trauma Is Harder Than The Physical Trauma’
Rhea's legal representatives, Abhinav Chandrachud and Prasanna Bhangale, contended that the petition should have been lodged in Mumbai, considering both the actress and Sushant were residents of the city, and investigations were conducted there. Showik and Indrajit's lawyer, Ayaz Khan, concurred with this argument. He further emphasized that the activation of the look-out circular is justified only if there is evidence indicating the accused actively avoiding arrest or court proceedings, a circumstance not applicable in Rhea and Showik's situation.
BREAKING - Bombay High Court quashes LOCs issued against - Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik and their father Lt Col. Indrajit Chakraborty, an army veteran.
— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) February 22, 2024
LOC was issued after the Sushant Singh Rajput Case. #SSR #RheaChakraborty #CBI pic.twitter.com/NFctDGjWym
According to PTI, CBI's advocate Shreeram Shirsat urged the court to 'temporarily halt the implementation of its order for a span of four weeks' to enable the filing of an appeal at the Supreme Court. However, the High Court declined to impose a stay on the order. Although the look-out circulars were initially issued in 2020, Showik secured a temporary suspension on the order in September of the previous year, permitting him to travel internationally.
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