Rhea Chakraborty Shares Cryptic Post After NCB Decides Not To Challenge Bail Granted To Her

Narcotics Control Bureau told the Supreme Court it was not challenging the bail granted to Rhea Chakraborty in connection with a drugs-related probe linked to the death of film star Sushant Singh Rajput.

New Delhi: In a big relief to actor Rhea Chakraborty, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) told the Supreme Court it was not challenging the bail granted to the actor in connection with a drugs-related probe linked to the death of film star Sushant Singh Rajput. Hours after this development, Rhea shared a video of herself on her Instagram story with the caption, "Gratitude (sic)," with folded hands emoji.Though Rhea didn’t mention anything else in the story, it looked like the post was in reaction to the relief she has got. 

According to PTI, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju told a bench of Justices A S Bopanna and M M Sundresh that NCB is not challenging the bail but the question of law should be kept open with regard to Section 27-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. 

The apex court agreed and disposed of the government's appeal while also clarifying that the Bombay High Court order would not be treated as a precedent.

The NCB has charged Chakraborty under the stringent Section 27-A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act that pertains to "financing and harbouring illegal drug trafficking". It entails imprisonment of up to 10 years and a bar on grant of bail. 

The high court had said that simply paying for a particular drug transaction does not qualify as financing drug traffic. 

"The allegations against the applicant of spending money in procuring drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput will not, therefore, mean that she had financed illicit traffic," PTI quoted the high court as saying. 

It had also noted that harbouring an offender as described under the Act would mean providing money for that person's drug consumption while also giving him shelter and food. 

While granting her bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, the high court had observed in its order that Chakraborty did not have criminal antecedents, and it was unlikely that she would tamper with evidence or affect the probe while out on bail. 

However, in Chakraborty's case, since there was no financing or harbouring (of drugs or its consumers), Section 27-A could not be applied, the HC said. 

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14, 2020. After a case of alleged abetment to suicide was registered against Chakraborty by Rajput's parents, a parallel probe into alleged drug procurement by her also began on the basis of her WhatsApp chats.