Rhea Chakroborty’ Bank Account Defreezed, Court Returns Gadgets

Mumbai : A special NDPS Court has ordered to defreeze Rhea Chakraborty’s Bank Accounts. The Accounts were frozen by NCB last year following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death in June 2020.

In a plea for defreezing the bank account Rhea requested the court to defreeze her account as her survival is difficult if transactions cannot take place. She said that she is ‘an actor/model by profession’ and that ‘NCB freezed the bank accounts and FDs by Notice dated 16/09/2020 without reason, and it is causing grave injustice and prejudice to her’. Her application stated that the operation of bank account is required for making the payment of salaries of her employees and for fulfilling various tax liabilities including GST payments, etc. The actress said that she supports her own lifestyle from the amount in the bank accounts. Her brother is also dependent on her. She said that her bank accounts hadbeen frozen for 10 months, and it was causing prejudice to her, so, they should be defreezed.

Special Public Prosecutor Atul Sarpande representing theNCB opposed the application while stating that financial investigation in the case is going on, and it is not completed yet. Serpande contested that if the accounts are defreezed, then it will hamper the investigation. It was further contended that if the bank accounts are defreezed, then there is a high possibility of involving the said amount in drug mafia and drug related business. Hence, he urged for rejecting the application. However, the investigating officer in the case said that it would be best to leave the issue to the discretion of the court.

Special judge DB Mane said, “From the reply of the investigating officer, it appears that there is no strong objection from the NCB side for defreezing the bank accounts and FDs of Chakraborty.” The judge further added, “In such circumstances, Chakraborty is entitled for defreezing the bank accounts and FDs subject to conditions and undertaking supported by an affidavit stating that during the pendency and conclusion of the trial of the case, she shall make the balance amount, as shown in the concerned account as on 16/09/2020, available for passing necessary orders, as and when required.”

In another plea, Rhea Chakraborty stated that her gadgets, a Macbook Pro Apple Laptop and Apple Iphone, should be returned back to her. Atul Sarpande said that the articles were seized and sent to laboratory and now they have received the same from laboratory. It is further submitted that the investigating officer has already informed the actress to collect her property. The court ordered that the gadgets be returned to Rhea on ‘Supurtnama’ after due verification and identification, and executing indemnity bond for Rs 1,00,000.