In a major relief for actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family, the Supreme Court has dismissed a "frivolous" petition filed by the CBI, State of Maharashtra, and Bureau of Immigration seeking to reinstate the lookout circular (LOC) against them in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. The court warned the agencies that such petitions would be dismissed with exemplary costs, citing the right to travel as a fundamental right that cannot be curtailed without due procedure. The Bombay High Court had earlier quashed the LOCs against the Chakraborty family in February this year, raising questions about the delay in the investigation and the rationale behind issuing the LOCs.
Sushant Singh Rajput Death Case: Supreme Court Dismisses CBI Plea to Reinstate Lookout Circular
Background:
Sushant Singh Rajput, a popular Bollywood actor, died by suicide in his Mumbai apartment on June 14, 2020. His death sent shockwaves through the film industry and sparked widespread speculation and controversy. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation of the case in August 2020.
Supreme Court Ruling:
In a significant development, the Supreme Court on February 16, 2023, dismissed a petition filed by the CBI and the State of Maharashtra to reinstate the lookout circular (LOC) issued against Rhea Chakraborty and her family in connection with Rajput's death. The court held that the petition was "frivolous" and that the right to travel was a fundamental right.
The court also warned the agencies that such petitions would be dismissed with exemplary costs, emphasizing the importance of following due process and respecting individual freedoms. The Bombay High Court had previously quashed the LOCs against the Chakraborty family in February 2022, raising questions about the delay in the investigation and the lack of evidence to justify the LOCs.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q1: What is a lookout circular (LOC)? A: An LOC is a notice issued by the Bureau of Immigration to prevent individuals from leaving the country.
Q2: Why was an LOC issued against Rhea Chakraborty? A: The CBI had issued an LOC against Rhea Chakraborty and her family in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, suspecting their involvement in his death.
Q3: What did the Supreme Court say about the LOCs? A: The Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking to reinstate the LOCs, holding that it was frivolous and that the right to travel was a fundamental right.
Q4: Has there been any progress in the Sushant Singh Rajput death investigation? A: The CBI investigation into Rajput's death is ongoing. No arrests have been made to date, and the cause of his death remains under investigation.
Q5: What is the current status of Rhea Chakraborty? A: Rhea Chakraborty is out on bail and is not under any travel restrictions. She continues to maintain her innocence in connection with Rajput's death.
The ruling Mahayuti alliance is set for their third straight term in Maharashtra as they lead with 234 seats. PM Modi has praised their victory, while CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Ajit Pawar express their gratitude to the people. Meanwhile, the INDIA bloc is leading with 56 seats in Jharkhand, with JMM's Hemant and Kalpana Soren emerging as winners. In Maharashtra, BJP has won 125 seats, Shiv Sena has won 55, and NCP has won 40, while in Jharkhand, the BJP has won 24. Despite some internal disputes, the alliance has come out victorious with a strong lead in both states.
Aaditya and Amit Thackeray, political cousins in Maharashtra, have had varied outcomes in the latest assembly elections. While Aaditya managed to win a second term with thanks to his uncle's influence, Amit lost out on his maiden polls and can attribute some of the loss to his own uncle's decision. This highlights the complicated family politics at play in India and the impact it has on election results. The strongholds of Worli and Mahim saw three-way contests, with the MNS's entry proving to be a game-changer. The close margins highlight that a direct face-off between Aaditya and rival Milind Deora or between Mahesh Sawant and Eknath Shinde Sena can produce different results.
In a historic victory, Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his party registered a stunning win in the Jharkhand Assembly Elections, securing 56 out of the 81 seats. Their landslide victory was attributed to the popularity of schemes like Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana, which provided financial assistance to rural women voters. Soren, who faced corruption charges and was released on bail, has vowed to transform the state into a "golden Jharkhand" and continue with the coalition government.
The Maharashtra Assembly Election Results 2024 are in, and the incumbent Mahayuti alliance, led by Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, is poised for another victory. With a lead over the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the Mahayuti looks set for a landslide win. Follow WION's website for the latest coverage on the election, and read on to find out what Prime Minister Modi has to say about the NDA's victory.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Priyanka Gandhi secured a convincing victory in the Wayanad constituency, surpassing her brother Rahul Gandhi's victory margin in the same seat earlier that year. Despite attempts by rivals to discredit Rahul, Priyanka's victory felt like an "annihilation" for them. This victory shows the unwavering support for the Gandhi family in Wayanad and their dominance in Indian politics.
In the recent Maharashtra Assembly polls, the Congress-NCP alliance leads in almost 80% of the seats, while the MNS party fails to secure even a single seat. NDA also wins big in Assembly bye-elections, with Trinamool Congress sweeping West Bengal. The Indian media's coverage of the violence in Canada has raised questions about its alignment with Hindutva ideology.
The Mahayuti party has secured a landslide victory in Maharashtra's assembly elections, winning two-thirds of the seats. In a joint press conference, CM Eknath Shinde took a dig at Uddhav Thackeray's government, saying that a government cannot work through Facebook. The CM also highlighted the party's achievements in the past 2.5 years, including the completion of important projects that were halted by the MVA. NCP leader Ajit Pawar credited the party's victory to the "Ladki Bahin" scheme, which proved to be a gamechanger. The opposition's calls for using ballot paper in elections were slammed by Pawar, who pointed out their changing stance based on their own interests.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has responded to Congress' claims of EVM irregularities in Jharkhand by calling out their inconsistent stance on the matter. He highlighted the party's tendency to only question the integrity of the EVM process when the results aren't favorable to them. Shinde also reaffirmed the public's support for Shiv Sena's win in the recent elections.
According to the latest figures from the Election Commission, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is leading in 217 seats out of 288, almost halfway through the counting process. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi appears to be struggling, with only 50 seats in their favor. BJP leader Kalidas Kolambkar from Wadala has already been declared as the winner in the first result announced. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at BJP headquarters to celebrate the party's victory, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari expressing confidence in their ability to form a government. BJP leader Pankaja Munde stated that the public's rejection of fake narratives and acceptance of the politics of development has led to a significant victory for the Mahayuti alliance.
With the Jhunjhunu bypoll results set to be announced on November 23, 2024, the race is on to see who will be elected as the next Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from this important Assembly constituency in Rajasthan. With a total of 11 candidates in the fray, including big names from major political parties like the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the stakes are high. In the previous election, INC's Brijendra Singh Ola emerged victorious, but with many new candidates vying for the seat, it remains to be seen who will come out on top in 2024. Stay updated with live result updates on the day of the bypoll to find out who will win and who will lose.