The Bombay High Court on Thursday quashed the Look Out Circulars (LOCs) issued against actor Rhea Chakraborty, her brother Showik Chakraborty and their father Indrajit Chakraborty, an Army veteran, in connection with actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case.
A Division Bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Manjusha Deshpande questioned the arguments of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and said, “The LOCs are quashed and set aside. We have dismissed your [CBI] arguments on maintainability.” The Bench also observed that the CBI’s apprehension of the three Chakrabortys fleeing the country was never mentioned as a reason in their previous circulars.
The court further said the case did not involve any financial fraud that could take a long time to resolve, so it needed a conclusion. On the travel ban, the court said the LOC was issued against a witness that prevented them from travelling outside India to earn livelihood. Some discretion should have been exercised as well, the court said and asked what exactly the concern was if the travel ban was lifted.
An LOC restricts an individual from travelling abroad without prior permission of the court. In 2020, an LOC was issued by the CBI against Ms. Chakraborty, her brother and father in connection with Sushant’s death probe. In December 2023, the Bombay High Court suspended the LOC issued against Ms. Chakraborty and permitted her to travel to Dubai for work.
