Former Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey criticized the Mumbai Police’s handling of Sushant Singh Rajput’s case, claiming it led to public suspicion. He highlighted their lack of cooperation with the Bihar Police and expressed concerns about potential evidence being overlooked or destroyed. The CBI has since filed a closure report on the case.
Patna: Following the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) filing of a closure report regarding Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, Gupteshwar Pandey, the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar, has expressed criticism of the Mumbai Police’s actions during the investigation, indicating that they fostered public suspicion. While he did not comment on the closure report itself, he emphasized the professionalism of the CBI as an investigative agency.
Pandey highlighted issues during the initial investigation, alleging that the Mumbai Police exhibited a lack of cooperation with the Bihar Police team that was dispatched for the inquiry. He mentioned that an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, tasked with improving coordination, was quarantined, and the Bihar Police team faced obstructions that limited their investigation to merely five days.
The former DGP asserted that he did not claim Sushant Singh Rajput was murdered; rather, he maintained that the circumstances surrounding the actor’s death were suspicious and warranted thorough investigation. In conversations with ANI, he noted, “When news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death came, the matter died down within 20 days. After 20 days, his father lodged a case in Patna for the investigation of which a team was sent. But Maharashtra Police did not cooperate.”
Moreover, Pandey expressed apprehensions regarding the thoroughness of the CBI’s investigation, suggesting that possible evidence might not have been fully uncovered or could have been compromised. He clarified, “There could still be a suspicion that CBI did not get all evidence or maybe some evidence was even destroyed,” reiterating that his position only called for a vigilant inquiry into the matter.
Concerning the actions of the Mumbai Police, he remarked that had they managed the case more effectively and communicated transparently through press conferences, it could have mitigated the damage to their reputation. He maintained a neutral stance regarding the CBI’s findings, acknowledging their status as a professional agency. The CBI’s closure report marks a significant development nearly five years after Rajput’s tragic demise on June 14, 2020.
The closure report was reportedly submitted to a Mumbai Court, following extensive public attention and demand for justice surrounding the actor’s passing. As the investigation transitioned from the Mumbai Police to the CBI, the reported cause of death in the postmortem conducted at Cooper Hospital was asphyxia. This incident ignited nationwide protests advocating for justice for the deceased actor.
In summary, Gupteshwar Pandey’s critiques regarding the Mumbai Police’s investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death reflect deep-seated concerns about their conduct and cooperation with Bihar authorities. His emphasis on the necessity for thorough investigations highlights ongoing questions about the efficacy of law enforcement in this high-profile case. The CBI’s recent closure report concludes a lengthy inquiry but leaves several lingering suspicions surrounding the circumstances of the actor’s demise.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
