Following the submission of a closure report by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the death case of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, Rhea Chakraborty’s lawyer, Satish Maneshinde, has firmly reiterated that the actor’s death was a “pure case of suicide” and that Rhea had no role in it.

Speaking to the media, Maneshinde said, “I have been saying from the first day that Rhea Chakraborty had nothing to do with Sushant Singh Rajput’s death. Still, on July 27, 2020, someone filed a complaint against her and that is why the investigation started.” He highlighted that Sushant’s death on June 14, 2020, was initially registered as a suicide by the Maharashtra Police and was being investigated accordingly.

According to Maneshinde, the Deputy Commissioner of Police of Mumbai’s Bandra zone had thoroughly examined the case and found no links between Rhea and Sushant’s death. Her statement had also been recorded during the state police probe.

Rhea had no contact with Sushant post-June 8, says lawyer

The lawyer also revealed that Rhea left Sushant’s residence on June 8, 2020, due to growing tensions between the two over his drug usage and medication patterns. After this point, there was reportedly no contact between the two.

He added that at the time of Sushant’s death, the actor was living with two to three staff members and flatmates, yet Rhea was accused by the family of misappropriating ₹15 crore from his accounts, which led to a case being filed in Patna.

“Despite all this, Sushant’s family dragged Rhea Chakraborty into this case… and because of their allegations, the Supreme Court transferred the case to the CBI,” Maneshinde stated. He pointed out that the CBI had interrogated Rhea and her family members extensively over the years and has now, nearly five years later, filed a closure report.

CBI files closure report nearly five years after actor’s death

On Saturday, sources confirmed that the CBI submitted its closure report to a Mumbai court. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra flat on June 14, 2020, triggering a national debate and widespread media attention. His postmortem, conducted at Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital, cited asphyxia as the cause of death.

Chaos erupted in Parliament on Monday during the ongoing Budget Session as both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned within minutes of commencing proceedings. The disruption was sparked by a heated row in the Rajya Sabha over the issue of minority reservations, with opposition and ruling party members clashing over remarks concerning potential constitutional changes.

As the Rajya Sabha began its session, BJP MPs raised loud objections, demanding Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge clarify the Congress party’s position on reservations for Muslims. The uproar was triggered by a recent remark allegedly made by a senior Congress leader regarding constitutional amendments to extend reservation benefits to the Muslim community.

BJP MP Kiren Rijiju highlighted the issue, stating, “A senior Congress leader holding a constitutional post has made a statement that they (Congress) are going to change the Constitution of India to provide reservation to the Muslim community. We cannot take this statement lightly.”

Backing Rijiju, Leader of the House JP Nadda reiterated that the Constitution clearly mentions that reservation cannot be granted on the basis of religion. The statement added fuel to the fire, further intensifying the protests.

As tensions rose, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned until 2 pm. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 12 noon due to similar disruptions.

Amid the uproar, important legislative business remains pending. In the Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to move The Finance Bill, 2025 for consideration and passing. In the Rajya Sabha, she will also seek the passage of The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Parliament is expected to reconvene later in the day, with the government aiming to push forward with legislative agendas amid the political turbulence.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has come out strongly against comedian Kunal Kamra over his recent joke targeting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stating the remarks were disrespectful and demanding a public apology.

The controversy erupted following a parody performance by stand-up comic Kunal Kamra, in which he took a dig at Eknath Shinde using a spoof of the 1997 Bollywood song ‘Bholi Si Surat’. Kamra referred to Shinde as a “gaddar” (traitor), alluding to the 2022 rebellion that led to the fall of Uddhav Thackeray’s government and a split in the Shiv Sena.

The incident sparked outrage among Shiv Sena workers, who vandalised Mumbai’s Habitat studio—where Kamra’s show was filmed. Visuals from the site showed extensive damage, with chairs being flung and studio equipment destroyed.

Chief Minister Fadnavis condemned the comic’s remarks while clarifying that he isn’t against comedy as a form of expression. “Such low-level comedy and disrespecting the Deputy Chief Minister is not right,” he stated. Addressing Kamra’s ‘gaddar’ comment, he said, “Maharashtra has shown in the 2024 elections who the real traitor is. The people have chosen the rightful heir to Bal Thackeray’s legacy.”

Fadnavis further emphasised that freedom of speech does not equate to unbounded liberty. “The Constitution gives us freedom, but there are limits. You cannot encroach on someone else’s rights,” he said, urging Kamra to apologise.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar also weighed in, urging responsible speech. “Differences of opinion are natural, but statements should not provoke situations that require police intervention,” he cautioned.

Following the attack, the Habitat studio announced a temporary shutdown, expressing concern for its staff and property. In a statement, it said, “Artists are solely responsible for their views. We’ve never interfered with content, yet we face consequences each time.”

The studio also invited stakeholders and the artistic community to deliberate on how to continue supporting free expression while ensuring safety.

Political reactions have been divided. Sena (UBT) leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Priyanka Chaturvedi criticised the vandalism, calling it an act of intolerance. “Only an insecure coward would react to a song,” said Aaditya, while Chaturvedi argued that if someone was offended, legal routes should be followed.

State minister Pratap Sarnaik, who filed an FIR against Kamra, condemned the remarks but distanced himself from the vandalism. However, he alleged that the studio was “illegal”. Meanwhile, Sena leader Milind Deora defended Shinde, calling him a “self-made leader” and accused critics of exhibiting “classist arrogance.”