Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty was on Friday questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai in connection with a money laundering case relating to film star Sushant Singh Rajput’s alleged suicide. Her request to put it off the interrogation was rejected by the agency.
Chakraborty arrived at the agency’s office minutes after the 11.30 am deadline. Rhea Chakraborty left the ED office after 8 hours of interrogation.
Her father Indrajit Chakraborty and brother Showik, both accused in the abetment to suicide case lodged by Patna Police, were also seen with her.
Chakraborty’s statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Rajput’s father Krishna Kumar Singh had in his complaint before Patna Police alleged financial irregularities in the late actor’s bank accounts.
In the complaint, Singh alleged Rs 15 crore was siphoned off from Rajput’s bank account in one year to accounts of persons not known or connected to the late film star.
Two companies linked to Rajput and some financial deals involving Chakraborty, her father and Showik who are stated to be directors in these companies, are under the scanner of the ED, officials said.
The ED has also summoned Chakraborty’s CA Ritesh Shah for questioning.
The ED has also summoned Shruti Modi, another accused in the case and Chakraborty’s business manager besides Rajput’s friend and roommate Siddharth Pithani for questioning in connection with the money laundering probe, officials said.
The duo’s statement will also be recorded under PMLA once they appear on their scheduled dates for Friday and Saturday respectively.
Pithani is said to be out of Mumbai at present and he has claimed in television news channel interviews that he was present in the Bandra flat on June 14 when Rajput (34) was found hanging from the ceiling.
Pithani, an IT professional, was reportedly living with Rajput for about a year. His statement was also recorded by the Mumbai Police as part of their accidental death probe in the case.
The agency has already questioned Rajput’s Chartered Accountant (CA) Sandeep Shridhar and his business manager and staffer Samuel Miranda twice in the case.
The ED questioning revolved around Chakraborty’s investments, business and professional deals and links. A property located in the Khar area of Mumbai, linked to Chakraborty, is also being probed by the ED for the source of its purchase and ownership, sources said.
Sources said Rhea submitted her income tax return and related papers to show that she acquired the properties from her own money.
Meanwhile, the CBI that has taken over the Patna police FIR in Rajput’s death case has begun analysing the documents in the case and is awaiting the case diary from the Bihar police. The agency is also taking legal opinions on various issues before a team will be sent to Mumbai for investigation. The CBI has also sought details of the case being probed by the Mumbai police under CrPC section relating to accidental death.
Interestingly, the CBI has entrusted the case to the Anti-Corruption Unit instead of the Special Crimes Unit that usually probes such sensational death cases. The CBI team comprises two IPS officers from Gujarat cadre Joint Director Manoj Sasidhar and DIG Gagandeep Gambhir and the Investigating Officer Additional Superintendant of Police Anil Kumar Yadav has in the past probed the Haren Pandya murder case. Another team member SS Rathi was an IO in the Israt Jehan encounter case probe.