Bombay HC defers decision on Rhea Chakraborty and her family's LOC annulment plea

In a recent development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family, the Bombay High Court has deferred its ruling on their petition seeking the annulment of Look-Out Circulars (LOC) issued against them. The LOCs were issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the probe into the tragic demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The court, comprising Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Manjusha Deshpande, engaged in a rigorous debate over the necessity and jurisdiction of the LOCs. Advocates representing the Chakraborty family argued vehemently for Mumbai's jurisdiction in the case, citing Rhea's residency and the CBI's investigative activities in the city. They contested the CBI's stance that the mere existence of an FIR warranted the issuance of LOCs, emphasizing the lack of evidence suggesting an intent to flee on the part of the accused.

The case, which has been mired in controversy since its inception in 2020, has seen numerous twists and turns. Despite the Chakrabortys' cooperation with the authorities and their repeated appearances upon summons, the chargesheet has yet to be filed, leading to frustration and skepticism among observers. 

In December last year, the High Court granted a temporary reprieve to the actress by suspending the Look-Out Circular (LOC), allowing her to journey to Dubai for a week. This authorization was facilitated by her responsibilities as a brand ambassador for a pet food company. Additionally, earlier in the preceding year, the HC had also lifted the LOC against her, permitting attendance at an award function. However, circumstances prevented her from making the trip on that occasion.

With the bench expressing concerns about the impact of the LOCs on the accused and the progress of the investigation, the case continues to be shrouded in uncertainty.