Sushant Singh Rajput - Death 2020

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Death of Sushant Singh Rajput
Sushant_sr_Manish_M_B'day_bash.jpg
Rajput in 2016
Date 14 June 2020
Time Afternoon
Location Bandra, Mumbai, India
Cause Under CBI investigation-Suicide or Murder
Cremation 15 June 2020, at the Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle

On 14 June 2020, the Indian actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead hanging from the ceiling fan at his home in Bandra, Mumbai. The post-mortem report concluded that he died of asphyxia due to hanging. [2] [3] The Mumbai Police ruled it a suicide. But many, including his family, believe he was killed. [2] [4] [5]

His death was extensively covered by mainstream and social media as people questioned the role of the State political leaders, its Police and acclaimed Indian film industry personalities, in the death of a rising star under suspicious circumstances.

Timeline

The account reconstructed from questions to Sushant’s flatmates was that on 13 June 2020, the night before his death, Rajput retired to his bedroom after dinner. At around 2 a.m. on Sunday, 14 June he made two phone calls, one to Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty and another to television actor Mahesh Shetty. Neither call was answered. Rajput then woke up early that morning. [7] Sometime after, the police claim that he googled information about "schizophrenia", "bipolar disorder" and "painless death". [8]

Two of Rajput's friends were living with him. In the morning of 14 June, he spoke to his sister over the telephone at around 9 a.m. and an hour later he had a glass of juice and his tablets. At around 11:30 am, his cook knocked several times on the door of his room to confirm the menu for the day. He and Rajput's friends received no response. They then called a key-maker to open the door, following which they called Rajput's sister and the police. He was found hanging from the ceiling fan. No suicide note was recovered from the spot. [9]

It was reported that the Mumbai Police said the actor had shown symptoms of clinical depression and was consulting psychiatrists. [10] Times Now reported that medical papers and anti-depressant pills were found in his house. [11]

Investigation

The Role of the State, Police and Medical Institutions

On June 14 the Mumbai Police had registered an accidental death report (ADR) under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code. No formal complaint was registered. [87] Mumbai Police officials said that the death appeared a suicide prima facie. However, no suicide note was found. [88]

The police claimed that Rajput had initially tried to hang himself with the belt of a bathrobe, but it could not sustain his weight. Following this, he used a green kurta. His clothes were strewn over the floor of his bedroom; the police concluded that they had fallen out when he had pulled the kurta from his cupboard. Due to a discrepancy between his height and the distance between his bed and the ceiling fan, the police concluded that he had hanged himself in an inclined position. No sign of struggle was found according to the police. [20]

The Police did not cordon off the room making it unsuitable for further examination of forensic evidence. [89]

The Maharashtra Cyber Police tweeted that some pictures of Rajput being circulated online were "disturbing and in bad taste", warning people that posting such pictures on social media would invite legal action. [47]

Vikas Singh, Sushant’s family's lawyer, said that the police in Mumbai bungled the initial investigation. [5]

Cooper Hospital’s Post-Mortem Report

On 15 June, the day after the death, the post mortem report by Cooper Hospital stated the provisional cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging. [88] A team of doctors conducted an autopsy and submitted their provisional post-mortem report at Bandra Police Station. [13]

June 25 a final post-mortem report was received and stated that the cause of the death was asphyxia due to hanging and claimed it was a "clear case of suicide." [14] The autopsy doctors placed time of death at 10 to 12 hours before post-mortem examination on 14 June at 11:30 pm meaning between 11:30 am and 1:30 pm. [15] The report added that no foul play was found. [16]

July 27, Mumbai Police received the viscera report, which also ruled out any foul play. [17]

Several questions were raised about the glaring lapses in the post-mortem report.

According to the CBI, the autopsy report was allegedly 'botched' up. The post mortem report skipped vital details like the time of death, Republic TV reported. [89]

A videography of the post-mortem was not done. Sufficient viscera was not retained for future examination. The injuries on the body were not specified and thus there was no opinion expressed of the cause of such injuries. The leg which was fractured was not mentioned in the report [90] The post-mortem was done late night without there being any order of the Magistrate and due protocol was not followed. [90]

CBI questioned the Cooper doctors on why there was a hurry to conduct a post mortem on the late actor late at night, on the day his body was found hanging. The doctors allegedly stated that it was the Mumbai Police who asked them to do so. [89]

Of the panel of five doctors of Cooper Hospital who conducted the autopsy, only one was a junior level forensic doctor. The other 4 were just medical officers. The panel must be of forensic specialist as per norms. [91]

In the last pictures of the late actor, the ligature marks appear horizontally in the middle of his neck, bruised rather than showing up at a higher place, oblique and abraded, which is common in hanging. [92]

August 15, Vikas Singh, the family lawyer also raised concern about the choice of state run Cooper Hospital for conducting a post mortem, “Cooper Hospital is a hospital where you could easily get any certificates printed. This hospital has a very bad reputation. Parveen Babi, Jiah Khan, & Sushant Singh Rajput (filmstars), were all taken to Cooper (after their unnatural deaths) which is very suspicious,” he added. He also stated "Cooper Hospital is the 'most badnam (notorious) hospital' according to Google searches.". [93] [94] [95] August 24, Vikas Singh, during an interview with Times Now, said that if Sushant had juice in the morning as his roommates claimed, it should have been shown in the report. It did not. [95]

August 29, an employee of the Cooper Hospital who claimed to be present at the post mortem revealed that the actor was murdered. “This is murder. He did not die due to hanging. If someone commits suicide by hanging, then, his body will not turn pale,” the man said. He continued, “There were 15-20 needle marks on his neck, besides a yellowish patch.” On being asked about bloodstains on the neck of Sushant Singh Rajput, he clarified, “There was no blood. The marks were similar to those used in movie scenes. When we moved the body, the marks had come out.” Sushant’s limb was fractured. “His leg was twisted from the time we first saw the body,” the man revealed. “This is murder. Even the top-notch doctors at the hospital said this,” the man reiterated. “We can tell just by seeing the body whether it is a case of suicide. There were marks on the neck as well as on the sole of his feet. 3-4 deep marks on each foot.” [96]

September 7, the AIIMS Team also asked five Cooper Hospital doctors what about the ligature marks and how such marks could be produced by a kurta (loose collarless shirt) claimed? Dr Gupta, the head of the panel, had earlier asked how Mumbai Police had declared Sushant dead at the flat itself and not taken him to an emergency ward but directly to the mortuary? [91] [92]

October, Dr Subramanian Swamy observed on a public forum, that Cooper Hospital did an autopsy at midnight, at around 1 or 3 am in very poor lighting. They didn't bother to record a video of that. They concluded that he died of asphyxiation. Someone came along and said that don't just say asphyxiation. Add that it was asphyxiation 'by hanging'. One can be asphyxiated by a lot of things - by choking or being trapped in a box as well". [ [97]

CBI Probe

The Maharashtra Government opposed a CBI probe into the death and wanted its State Police to carry out the investigation. However, the Central Government favoured a CBI investigation and challenged the State before the Supreme Court which ordered a CBI probe.

Rajput's maternal uncle, alleging that his nephew was murdered, had demanded a CBI probe on the day of the actor's death. [59] Several political leaders, mostly from Bihar also demanded for a CBI investigation into the case. [60] [61] Bollywood actor Shekhar Suman created a forum called #justiceforSushantforum demanding a CBI probe into the death. [62]

Actor's fans demanded fair probe on various social platforms. [63] Initially actress Rhea Chakraborty, who "identified herself as Sushant's girlfriend," wrote the Hindustan Times, asked for Amit Shah's, India's Minister of Home Affairs', aid in launching a CBI probe. [64] Former union minister Subramanian Swamy wrote a letter to PM Modi requesting a CBI probe, which was acknowledged by the PM's office on 25 July. [65]

On July 17, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, however, refused a CBI probe. "The Mumbai Police is competent enough to handle such cases," [66] On 22 July, the Twitter hashtag #Candle4SSR trended with two million tweets from Rajput's fans around the world, as part of their online campaigns demanding a CBI investigation since actor's death. [67]

On 25 July, [21] Rajput's father, K. K. Singh, filed an FIR at Patna, where he lives, against Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, for abetment of suicide. He also accused them of wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, theft, criminal breach of trust, and cheating. [22]

He alleged in his complaint that Chakraborty cheated Rajput financially and mentally harassed him. [23] On 28 July, Chakraborty was booked in the case. [24] In a petition filed at the Supreme Court, Chakraborty claimed she had no role in the actor's death and was falsely implicated by Rajput's father. [25] She also sought transfer of the probe in the FIR to Mumbai, saying that there cannot be an impartial investigation in Bihar. [26] The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which investigates financial crimes, also registered a money laundering case over transactions worth of Rs 150 million based on the complaint registered by Rajput's father. [27]

On 29 July, Home Minister Deshmukh reiterated that the investigation would not be transferred to the CBI. [68] Both Sushant’s family and Maharashtra State Government filed caveats before the Supreme Court in the case. [88]

August 2, Anil Deshmukh once again condemned the demand for Sushant Singh Rajput's death case to be handed over to the CBI. [88]

August 3, Bihar Police's IPS Superintendent who arrived in Mumbai to investigate the murder was forced into quarantine by Mumbai authorities citing COVID-19 protocols. "I would say I wasn't quarantined. The investigation was quarantined. Investigation of Bihar Police was obstructed.” the officer said on release. [88] [98]

August 4, the Bihar government recommended a CBI inquiry in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. August 5, the Central Government accepted Bihar government's recommendation for a CBI probe. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor informed the Supreme Court of it and that CBI had decided to start the probe. [70] [88]

August 7, the Bihar government told the Supreme Court that the Maharashtra Police neither registered an FIR on actor Sushant Singh Rajput's suicide nor did it extend any support to Patna Police for investigating the case on "account of political pressure". [99] [88] The Centre pointed out in court that the Maharashtra Police’s affidavit claims it has collected statements of 56 persons . However, since it did not register an FIR the police officer is merely discharging functions under Section 174 [of CrPC] and such statements have no validity. [100]

On 8 August, the Maharashtra government told the Supreme Court that the CBI had shown "indecent haste" and should not have registered the case while proceedings were still pending before the court. [71]

August 19 The Supreme Court not only gave nod to a CBI probe the death case but also recognized the jurisdiction of Bihar Police saying that it is competent to give consent for a CBI investigation. The Supreme Court has also directed the Maharashtra government to cooperate with the CBI during the investigation. [101]

Justice Ray wrote “The records of the case produced before this Court, does not prima facie suggest any wrong doing by the Mumbai Police. However, their obstruction to the Bihar police team at Mumbai could have been avoided since it gave rise to suspicion on the bonafide of their inquiry.” Further the order added, “The Mumbai Police has attempted to stretch the purview of Section 174 without drawing up any FIR and therefore, as it appears, no investigation pursuant to commission of a cognizable offence is being carried out by the Mumbai police. …it is pre-emptive and premature to hold that a parallel investigation is being carried out by the Mumbai Police,” The SC verdict reiterated that the powers of Constitutional Courts cannot be fettered in ordering a CBI investigation. This assumes significance as the CBI cannot conduct an investigation without the consent of the concerned state as mandated by Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. [102]

Prior Warnings on WhatsApp

In August, Sushant’s father KK Singh said, “On February 25, I informed Bandra Police that the life of my son Sushant is in danger. He died on June 14 and I asked them to act against people named in my Feb 25 complaint. No action has been taken even 40 days after his death. So, I filed FIR in Patna. Patna Police swung into action. But the accused is running away (on the loose).” [103]

The Mumbai Police defended itself stating that the complaint was not in writing but on WhatsApp. The complainant was asked to make a written complaint. But the complainant wanted it to be resolved informally which was not possible. [103]

BJP leader, Nitish Rane’s Disclosures:

In October, BJP leader Nitish Rane claimed on Republic TV that "If the Mumbai Police would have got a free hand, they could have cracked this case. But even the Attorney General for Bihar had stated in the Supreme Court that the CM's son might be involved that's why such actions were taken.". [104]

“I have been saying in the past as well that it is not a suicide but a murder. Since it is murder then on that night the person who went to Sushant's house asked him about the murder of Disha and following that there must have been a fight between them and then Sushant was murdered in that fight, this is what I feel," ANI quoted Rane as saying in October. [105]

"Also at that time, a minister was present in Sushant's house. That is why I say that if the case of Sushant is opened then a Minister of Maharashtra will have to go to jail," said the BJP leader. [105]

The Shiv Sena strongly denied the charge. Its supportors claim that the BJP is trying to expedite the fall of the Shiv Sena government by letting the story roll and discrediting Shiv Sena in the eyes of the public. [55]

All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Report:

October 3, 2020, AIIMS forensic expert Dr Sudhir Gupta ‘leaked’ the findings of the panel to the media claiming that the report concluded that "Sushant death is a case of suicide. Murder completely ruled out." [106]

Republic TV aired an earlier telephonic conversation between the AIIMS doctor and one of its journalists on August 22 where Dr Sudhir had highlighted that the crime scene, in the Sushant Singh Rajput case, was contaminated insinuating destruction of evidence. Republic TV questioned with evidence not preserved, how did Dr Sudhir Gupta rule out murder? [106]

Vikas Singh, the family's lawyer said only the CBI can ascertain whether Rajput's death was a case of suicide and that AIIMS has "no right" to say if it was suicide or hanging. At a press conference, Singh claimed Dr Gupta had earlier told him that Rajput''s death was "200 per cent a case of strangulation" after seeing the pictures of his body which his sister had clicked. [90]

October 5, since the AIIMS final report ruling out that trace of poison or indications of marks of forcible death on SSR’s body, the CBI said that it had not ruled out abetment to suicide angle and all other aspects of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. [107]

Vikas Singh, the lawyer for Sushant Singh Rajput’s family, has demanded the constitution of a new AIIMS panel, following the U-turn by the doctor. [106]

Dr Subramanian Swamy, BJP leader, called the AIIMS report a mere review of the post-mortem done at Cooper Hospital which concluded that it is a case of suicide despite the lack of fulfilment of certain minimal conditions like videography, time of death, etc. [97]

Dr Swamy wrote a letter to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health posing questions on how AIIMS arrived at their conclusions and why it was selectively leaked to the media. The Committee’s Chairman, Ramgopal Yadav then wrote to the Health Ministry asking that Dr Sudhir Gupta from the AIIMS forensic panel answer the questions posed by Dr Swamy directly to him. [108]

The BJP leader also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter to give direction to the Ministry of Health to scrutinize the AIIMS report to instil public confidence. [120] Dr. Swamy had also remarked that the CBI should 'do the inevitable' and file an additional FIR under section 302 (murder) in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. [108]

Ancillary Developments:

A week prior to his suicide, Rajput had googled three subjects multiple times: Disha Salian, his former manager who had died about a week before him; news reports containing his own name; and information about a mental illness. [6]

On 3 August, Mumbai's police commissioner said there was no misappropriation of funds from Rajput's bank accounts and no money had been transferred to Rhea Chakraborty's accounts. On 4 August, Mumbai Police appointed Grant Thornton as the financial forensic auditor in the case. The Enforcement Directorate is now investigating this matter. [19] [28]

On 26 August, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), India's national drug law enforcement agency, registered an FIR against Rhea, her brother Showik, and three others. The ED had requested the NCB to join the investigation after its financial probe found that drugs were supplied to Rhea and Sushant. Specifically, the FIR invoked sections of India's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) dealing with cannabis.[34] [34]

On 4 September, the NCB arrested Showik Chakraborty and Sushant Singh Rajput's house manager, charging them under provisions of the NDPS Act.[35] The NCB arrested Rhea Chakraborty on 9 September for allegedly procuring drugs for Rajput; she was one of 20 persons arrested by the NCB in connection with the drugs angle being probed in the actor's death.[36] On 6 October, Mumbai Sessions Court extended Chakraborty's judicial remand until 20 October,[36] but a day later she was granted bail by the Bombay High Court. The high court rejected the NCB's theory that Chakraborty had harboured and financed Rajput's drug addiction, finding instead that she was not part of the chain of drug dealers involved in the case. [37] [37]

On 27 August, Muralidhar Rao, National General Secretary of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, said the National Investigation Agency, the country's central agency to combat terrorism in India, might have to get involved because the investigation was expanding, connecting different cases in a web of networks.[72] [72]

On October 5, 2020, Mumbai Police claimed its cyber unit had identified more than 80,000 fake accounts on social media platforms on June 14 from various countries in Asia and Europe seeking to discredit their ongoing official investigation. Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said, “This was a motivated campaign with vested interest just to malign the image of Mumbai police and derail our line of investigation." He added that those found to have violated the law would be prosecuted under the Information Technology Act.[57] [57]

Rhea Chakraborty’s Role

Rhea Chakraborty, had been dating Sushant for more than a year. The relationship had soured only days before Sushant’s death. [107 ]

On 8th June, eight hard drives were destroyed before Rhea Chakraborty left Sushant’s house. Republic TV claimed that experts were called to destroy the data on the eight drives. Both Sushant and Rhea were present. Republic TV further claimed Sushant was opposed to the deletion but Rhea insisted. India Today reported they may have mutually agreed to it. [109]

On July 16, Rhea requested a CBI inquiry into the matter. [88]

July 25, Sushant’s father, K.K. Singh, filed a police complaint against Rhea, her parents and her brother alleging abetment to suicide, theft, cheating and wrongful confinement. Vikas Singh, the family lawyer, said also said they believed that Sushant had not suffered from mental health issues until he met Rhea [5] [118] [119]

July 29, a team of Bihar Police reached Mumbai to probe the matter. Rhea moved the Supreme Court seeking to transfer the investigation in the case registered against her in Patna to Mumbai claiming Bihar did not have jurisdiction in the matter. [88]

Earlier in February, Sushant’s brother in law had complained to a senior Mumbai Police official on WhatsApp that Rhea, just after couple of days of association, had moved in at Sushant’s place. On the pretext of curing him of depression, she and her family took him to a resort near airport and kept him there for three months together. Since then, they are managing him and his business affairs. He is downhill since then. [103]

More chats hinted at how the family was worried that Sushant may be in danger. One read, “When the matter went out of hand, Sushant called up my wife to be rescued. He stayed with us 2-3 days. Went back fine citing his shooting commitments. He is downhill again with reports of Rhea firing all Sushant’s loyal team members and putting her own stooges.” [103]

Another message read, “His third sister, a Delhi-based lawyer, who used to be with him and visit him frequently is panicky that he has surrendered to a manipulative group of people and his life is at risk.” [103]

In August, the former Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, urged ED to register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) case after it has been observed that money was siphoned off from Sushant’s account. Sushant Singh Rajput’s father had filed an FIR alleging that Rhea had stolen Rs 15 crores from the actor. [110]

Three federal agencies investigated whether his girlfriend, the actress Rhea Chakraborty, gave him marijuana and was involved in Bollywood drug dealing and money laundering.[ [5]

The Enforcement Directorate is probing allegations of money laundering against Rhea and her family; Narcotics Control Bureau is looking into claims that she used to consume drugs and also supply them to Rajput. [111]

In August, the Enforcement Directorate accessed deleted WhatsApp chats from Rhea’s phone which point to her usage of and dealing in drugs. In November 2019, in one retrieved chat Jaya Saha advises Rhea, “Use 4 drops in tea or water and let him sip it… Give it 30-40 minutes to kick in”. “Thank you so much,” Rhea texts Jaya Saha, as Jaya replies to Rhea saying “No problem bro, hope it helps”. In another conversation, a contact named Miranda in Rhea’s phone informs the actress “Hi Rhea, the stuff is almost over.” Miranda then asks Rhea “Should we take it from Showik’s (Rhea’s brother) friend? But he has just hash & bud.” [112]

Chakraborty’s lawyer Satish Manehsinde has denied the charge. “Rhea has never consumed drugs in her life ever. She is ready for a blood test,” Maneshinde said. [111]

Following allegations that Rhea Chakraborty was responsible for his death, some Bhojpuri songs, which abused and threatened her, became popular in his home state of Bihar. [50]

Disha Salian’s Death

The State Police claimed that Rajput was upset with being linked to the death of Disha Salian, his previous manager. Salian had died five days before him, and a case of accidental death was registered. She died after falling from the fourteenth floor of her building. [6] [8] [18]

On 3 August, Police Commissioner of Mumbai Param Bir Singh said investigators had found no link between the deaths of Rajput and Salian.[19]. [19]

In October, BJP leader, Nitish Rane disputed this stating that deaths of Sushant and his former manager Disha Salian are interlinked. Disha died after falling from a 14th floor of building in Mumbai's Malad area on the night of June 8. The BJP legislator claimed that Disha's boyfriend and live-in partner Rohan Rai knew about the motive for Disha's death. [105]

He claimed on Republic TV that Disha had called the Police (100) a little before her death, while questioning the lack of calls for four hours before her death in her call data records. Rane stated that Rohan Rai, Disha’s fiance, came down only 25 minutes after Disha’s fall from the building, wondering why there was such a long delay. [117]

Rane also claimed that Disha had called Sushant about misbehaviour with her at a party she had attended the very evening. Sushant informed Rhea Chakraborty, who informed another person, after which a person was sent to Disha’s homes. [117]

Public Reactions

Rajput's death was generally perceived as being unexpected and shocking [42] On Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Rajput "a bright young actor gone too soon". Former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli too expressed their shock on Twitter. [45] Several prominent leaders and actors responded on social media. [44]

In August, the hashtag #CBIGrillCooperDoctors was trending on Twitter. [95]

Media's Role

Media, empowered by the Constitution as the fourth pillar in our democracy gave case received widespread and continuous coverage and attention. [5] [54] [55]

Republic Bharat, which pursued the story, surged to the top of the Hindi-language news ratings in August. [5]

On 3 September, considering two public interest litigation petitions by former police, civil service officers and a film maker alleging channels are conducting a media trial and vilifying the police, the Bombay High Court advised, "We urge and expect the media to exercise restraint in reporting of the investigation with respect to the death, [such that it] would not hamper investigation in any manner.". Continuing in October, the court ordered the MIB to inform it as to why no action had been initiated by the ministry in respect of complaints related to media trial in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. [56] [113]

On 23 October, the nongovernmental News Broadcasting Standards Authority directed news channels Aaj Tak, Zee News, News 24 and India TV to air an apology for insensitive reporting and sensationalizing Rajput's death. [58]

In October a Public Interest Litigation was filed before Delhi High Court seeking directions against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami and his media company to prevent publication or broadcast of any information or news relating to any criminal investigation. It also sought contempt of court proceeding be initiated against Arnab. It is to be heard next on November 27. [114]

The Indian Film Industry's Role

Many believe he was driven to suicide by a clubby culture of Bollywood insiders. [5]

Rajput's death sparked a debate in India about nepotism and pro-Islam lobbies in the Bollywood film industry. A drug abuse problem with many of its personalities has also been exposed.

His death has made it clear to many that even if talent is present in unquantifiable measure, a recognisable surname is still the ticket one needs to succeed in the film industry. [121]

June 15, actor Kangana Ranaut accused a section of people in the film industry of not acknowledging Sushant Singh Rajput, debunked the theory of the actor committing suicide, and talked about nepotism in Bollywood. [88]

In an interview with Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, she blamed the "movie mafia" for Rajput's death. [77] She claimed that production houses like Dharma Productions and Yash Raj Films had worked to ensure Rajput's failure and that film critic Rajeev Masand had defamed him publicly. [78]

A case was registered against Karan Johar, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Salman Khan, Ekta Kapoor and four others in the Patna High Court by a lawyer, Sudhir Kumar Ojha, alleging that Sushant had been denied opportunities due to nepotism, leading to his suicide, but the case was later dismissed on 8 July. Johar and Alia Bhatt were then bullied on social media. [73] [74] [75] [76]

Following this, Simi Garewal [79] and A. R. Rahman [80] spoke about groupism that they faced in Bollywood. Sonu Nigam referred to the nepotism in music industry as " music mafia". [81] An old video of Kader Khan describing the groupism he faced became popular on social media. [82]

While netizens mourned the loss of the bright young star, a trend erupted on Twitter aimed to boycott 'the camps' of the showbiz industry. Social media users blamed Bollywood's camps for Sushant's suicide. A screenshot of Sushant's Instagram conversation with one of his fans was doing the rounds after his death. The actor requested his fan to watch the film Sonchiriya, adding that he has no Godfather in the film industry. [122]

Amid the debate over nepotism, vote brigading by fans of Rajput led to the trailer of Sadak 2, released on 12 August 2020, to become the most disliked trailer on YouTube within 24 hours of its release. [83] Speculating that Rajput had despaired of being shut out of the film industry due to favoritism, his fans blamed Bollywood insiders, including Mahesh Bhatt, director of Sadak 2, and his daughter Alia Bhatt, one of the film's stars, who had spoken dismissively of Rajput in a talk show. [84]

August 19, Kangana launched a scathing against the mafia in the movie industry and said there are gangs at work whose goal is to push a political agenda. On Republic TV, she slammed the likes of Javed Akhtar and Naseeruddin Shah. Exposing Javed Akhtar’s charade of being an ‘atheist’, she stated that the likes of Javed Akhtar pretend to be ‘atheists’, but in reality, keep an eye on people within the industry to check whether they are pro-Islam or not. She added then that these people ‘filter’ Islam-friendly people in the industry and promote them. [115]

The Narcotics Control Bureau has conducted a series of raids at residences of big names associated with Bollywood including actors Arjun Rampal, Bharti Singh, Haarsh Limbachiyaa, producer Firoz Nadiadwala implicated in use or supply of drugs. This follows the arrest of Rhea Chakraborty and her brother Shovik, who is still in jail. Many Bollywood actresses including Deepika Padukone, Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, Shraddha Kapoor and others were summoned by the central agency to question in the case as their names surfaced in the drug case. [116]

Mental Health Questions

The death sparked debates over mental health. [43]

A few hours after Rajput's death, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam claimed that Rajput had signed seven films after his 2019 box office hit Chhichhore and had lost them all within a span of six months. [46]

Interrogation of three psychiatrists and one psychotherapist confirmed that Rajput had consulted them and was on medication prescribed by them. It is unclear if Rhea revealed Sushant’s drug habit to the doctors, as she claims Sushant had after his death. [6]

Susan Walker, a psychologist in Mumbai and Mr. Rajput’s therapist, has said that he suffered from bipolar disorder and disputed that Ms. Chakraborty had anything to do with his death. Mr. Rajput’s family has complained to Indian medical officials that she violated patient confidentiality. [5]

Vikas Singh, the family lawyer, said also said they believed that Mr. Rajput had not suffered from mental health issues until he met Ms. Chakraborty. [5]

June 15, Kangana Ranaut, a leading actress, put the film industry under a spotlight with a video released the day after Sushant’s death that disputed the idea that he had been depressed, even as she accused studio bigwigs of driving him to suicide. [5]

Friends and family of Sushant strongly denounced the reports about the actor being of unstable mind. Rohini Iyer, publicist and his friend writes, "He hated fake friends, phone calls and small talk. He rejected your parties, you didn't shun him. He rejected your lobbies. He didn't need camps, he had his own kingdom. He was a fighter." [121]

Other

Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti initiated a 'Global Prayers for SSR' campaign to urge all to collectively pray for the departed soul on 15 August 10:00 am local time. Along with family members and fans, many celebrities include Kriti Sanon, Ankita Lokhande and Ekta Kapoor also joined in this movement. [51] [52] [53]

Cremation

Rajput was cremated by his father at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle on 15 June. [85] Actors Kriti Sanon, Shraddha Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Ranvir Shorey amongst others were present at his funeral proceedings. [86]

References

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Further reading

  • Akbar, SZ; Sharma, A; et al. (2020). "Anatomy of a Rumour: Social media and the suicide of Sushant Singh Rajput". arXiv : 2009.11744 [ cs.SI ].