Bombay High Court grants Rhea Chakraborty one-week travel relief

The Bombay High Court has temporarily lifted the look-out-circular (LOC) against Rhea Chakraborty, granting her permission to travel abroad for a meet-and-greet event in Dubai. The LOC, issued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, had prevented her from leaving the country. Chakraborty, a brand ambassador for a Dubai-based pet food company, sought the suspension, which the court approved for one week.

A vacation bench, comprising Justice Kamal Khata and Justice Jitendra Shantilal Jain, granted the suspension to allow Chakraborty to attend the event in Dubai scheduled from December 27 to January 2.

Earlier, her plea faced objection from the CBI, arguing that she was no longer the brand ambassador for the pet food company. 

The agency cited the appointment of Kiara Advani as the new ambassador and questioned the authenticity of the invitation letter provided by Chakraborty. Despite the CBI's concerns, the court approved the suspension.

The CBI's counsel, advocate Shreeram Shirsat, maintained that Chakraborty did not require permission to travel abroad. On the contrary, Chakraborty's lawyer, Abhinav Chandrachud, argued that both Chakraborty and Advani held the same position as brand ambassadors for the company.

The court also addressed the CBI's concerns about jurisdiction, stating that it had authority since the alleged crime took place in Mumbai. Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June 2020 triggered investigations by various agencies, including the CBI. Chakraborty, his former girlfriend, has been a focal point of the inquiry. The LOCs against Chakraborty and her brother, Showik Chakraborty, were issued during the investigation, preventing them from traveling abroad. The court's intervention has temporarily lifted these restrictions.