Sent to jail, Rhea Chakraborty moves sessions court for bail

In the plea, the 28-year-old actor has said the NCB is “silent” and “deliberately vague” on the amount of financing, quantum and type of drugs she is alleged to have procured and financed.

rhea chakraborty, rhea chakraborty news, rhea chakraborty drug case, rhea chakraborty bail, rhea chakraborty arrested, rhea chakraborty bail plea hearing, rhea chakraborty drugs case, rhea chakraborty sushant singh rajput, sushant singh rajput drugs case, sushant singh rajput, sushant singh rajput case, sushant singh rajput death case

Rhea, currently lodged in Byculla women's jail, has claimed in her bail plea that there was no charge of consumption, possession or seizure of drugs against her and Showik and that the NCB is “deliberately vague and silent”. (File)

ACTOR RHEA Chakraborty has filed a bail application before the sessions court on Wednesday stating the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) contended her to be an “active member of a drug syndicate” based only on the allegation that she purchased a small quantity of drugs for actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who died by suicide on June 14.

Chakraborty’s bail was rejected by the magistrate’s court late on Tuesday after she was arrested by the NCB for charges including financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders under Section 27(A) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The actor, who was kept at the NCB office on Tuesday, was shifted to the Byculla Women’s Jail on Wednesday morning.

Her lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, approached the Mumbai city civil and district sessions court for bail on Wednesday. In the plea, the 28-year-old actor has said the NCB is “silent” and “deliberately vague” on the amount of financing, quantum and type of drugs she is alleged to have procured and financed.

Also Read: Rhea Chakraborty to now be probed on drugs FIR based on WhatsApp chats

“The case of NCB in layman’s terms is that the applicant (Chakraborty) would coordinate the delivery of drugs for her then boyfriend (Rajput) and occasionally pay for them herself. In essence, her alleged role, if any, is the purchase of a small quantity of drugs for her then boyfriend, which would squarely fall within the ambit of a section which is punishable with a maximum imprisonment of up to one year or with fine or both,” the plea states, adding the charges against her are bailable.

Chakraborty has also sought bail on grounds of parity since three other persons arrested in the case have been granted bail. It adds Section 27(A) of the NDPS Act — pertaining to financing illicit traffic of drugs — is only applied to the actor and her brother Showik “despite there being no seizures from the two”.

An NCB official said Chakraborty’s bail plea will be opposed, adding that at the stage of FIR the agency did not distinguish between individual roles and the sections applied are applicable to all the 10 accused.

Story continues below this ad

“We will be detailing individual roles while filing the complaint (chargesheet) before the court,” the official said. He added as per Section 37 of the NDPS Act there was an embargo against giving bail to an accused in certain sections of the NDPS Act, which includes 27(A).

When questioned how Kaizan Ebrahim, Karn Arora, and Abbas Lakhani, also arrested in the same case, managed to get bail when 27(A) is a non-bailable section, the official said, “It seems there was some error on the part of the court and we may approach the court against their bail.” Arora and Lakhani were granted bail on August 29 while Ebrahim was granted bail on September 5. The NCB, so far, has not approached the court seeking cancellation of their bails.

In her bail plea, Chakraborty has also said that she has been subjected to investigation by three agencies, so far, along with a “substantial media trial”. “All of these proceedings have taken a severe toll on her mental health and well-being. Any further custody would only worsen her condition,” the plea states. It adds further custody amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and a spike in cases in the city, it will be “gravely prejudicial” to her physical health as well.

On the other aspects of her bail, another NCB official said it will only be after an investigation that the agency will be able to determine if the actor should be charged as a drug abuser or as part of a syndicate. “It will then be up to the court to decide. We will specify the individual charges in case of all the accused we name in the case for the court to decide if any accused should be granted immunity post a de-addiction course as per the Act.”

Story continues below this ad

Three other accused in the case, including Showik, Abdel Basit Parihar, and Zaid Vilatra, have also sought bail. Their pleas along with Chakraborty’s will be heard on Thursday.

Mohamed Thaver

Mohamed Thaver is a highly specialized journalist with the Expertise and Authority required to report on complex law enforcement and legal issues. With a career dedicated to the crime beat for over a decade, his work provides readers with informed and trustworthy insights into Maharashtra's security and justice systems. Experience & Authority Core Focus: Has been exclusively covering the crime beat for over a decade, building deep, specialized knowledge in the field. Geographical Authority: Currently focuses heavily on law enforcement and policy in Maharashtra, providing authoritative coverage of the state's security apparatus. Key Beats: Law Enforcement: Reports on the operations of the Maharashtra Police and the Mumbai Crime Branch. Policy & Administration: Covers the Maharashtra Home Department, focusing on policy matters related to handling law and order and the evolution of the police force. Judiciary: Has significant past experience covering the courts, giving him a comprehensive understanding of the entire criminal justice process from investigation to verdict. Specialized Interest (Cyber & Forensics): Demonstrates Expertise in modern investigative techniques, with a keen focus on cyber crime and forensics, reporting on how these technologies assist complex crime investigations. Content Focus: His reports revolve around police probes, the evolution of the force, and state policy, ensuring his content is highly relevant and detailed. Credentials & Trustworthiness Mohamed Thaver’s long-standing specialization in the crime beat—combined with his focus on technological aspects like cyber crime and his direct coverage of major institutions like the Mumbai Crime Branch and the Maharashtra Home Department—underscores his Trustworthiness and status as an expert source for detailed and reliable journalism on law and order. He tweets @thaver_mohamed ... Read More

Sadaf Modak

Sadaf Modak is a distinguished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai whose work demonstrates exceptional Expertise and Authority in covering the intricacies of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a highly Trustworthy source for in-depth coverage of courtroom proceedings and human rights issues. Expertise Specialized Role: As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Sadaf Modak possesses deep, specialized knowledge of legal procedures, statutes, and judicial operations, lending immense Authority to her reports. Core Authority & Focus: Her work primarily centers on: Trial Court Proceedings: She mainly covers the trial courts of Mumbai, providing crucial, on-the-ground reporting on the day-to-day legal processes that affect citizens. She maintains a keen eye on both major criminal cases and the "ordinary and not so ordinary events" that reveal the human element within the justice system. Correctional and Social Justice Issues: Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom to critical areas of social justice, including writing extensively on: Prisons and Incarceration: Covering the conditions, administration, and legal issues faced by inmates. Juvenile Justice: Reporting on the complexities of the juvenile justice system and the legal rights of children. Human Rights: Focusing on fundamental human rights within the context of law enforcement and state institutions. Experience Institutional Affiliation: Reporting for The Indian Express—a leading national newspaper—ensures her coverage is subject to high editorial standards of accuracy, impartiality, and legal rigor. Impactful Detail: Her focus on trial courts provides readers with direct, detailed insights into the workings of the justice system, making complex legal narratives accessible and establishing her as a reliable and trusted chronicler of the legal landscape. Sadaf Modak's blend of judicial focus and commitment to human rights issues establishes her as a vital and authoritative voice in Indian legal journalism. She tweets @sadafmodak ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram