In a significant legal development, a Mumbai special court has ordered the defreezing of several bank accounts belonging to Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik Chakraborty, and their mother. The accounts had been frozen during the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.
Court Cites Legal Lapse by NCB
The accounts were originally frozen in 2020 by the Narcotics Control Bureau as part of a drug-related probe linked to the high-profile case.
However, the court found that the agency failed to comply with provisions under Section 68F of the NDPS Act. As per the law, any freezing of financial assets must be confirmed by a competent authority within 30 days—something that was not done in this case.
The judge ruled that the continued freezing of these accounts was legally untenable due to this procedural lapse, thereby granting relief to the Chakraborty family.
Legal Arguments and Opposition
Rhea Chakraborty’s legal team argued that the accounts—many of which were jointly held—were frozen without following due process. They emphasized that the absence of timely confirmation made the action unlawful.
On the other hand, the prosecution maintained that the freeze was justified based on alleged links to a drug network during the investigation. Despite this, the court prioritised procedural compliance and ruled in favour of the applicants.
Background of the Case
The financial scrutiny was part of a broader investigation following the death of Sushant Singh Rajput in June 2020, which led to multiple probes by central agencies, including the Narcotics Control Bureau.
Some accounts had already been defrozen in earlier phases, but the latest order grants access to additional accounts held in major banks.
Rhea Chakraborty’s Comeback Journey
Amid legal relief, Rhea Chakraborty is preparing to return to acting with an upcoming project directed by Hansal Mehta.
Speaking about her return, she reflected on the emotional challenges she faced over the past few years and expressed gratitude for her support system, including close friend Shibani Dandekar.
