Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty has long been vilified as a “gold digger” and a “murderer.” In 2020, she faced immense public scrutiny after being accused of involvement in the death of her boyfriend, Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The actress was subsequently jailed for 27 days amid widespread media outrage.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has now informed a court that Sushant Singh Rajput, a rising Bollywood star, died by suicide and that Rhea Chakraborty and her family had no role in his death.
Senior lawyer Satish Maneshinde, who represents Chakraborty, issued a statement saying that the CBI has “thoroughly investigated all aspects of the case and concluded it.” The investigation report has been submitted to a special court in Mumbai, which will decide whether to close the case or call for further proceedings.
Maneshinde added that Chakraborty had suffered “unimaginable pain” and was imprisoned “without any fault.” He urged media leaders to reflect on their conduct, stating, “False stories published on social media and electronic media are completely unacceptable.”
“Innocent people are being chased and paraded before the media and investigating agencies. I hope such incidents are never repeated,” he added.
Feminist lawyer Payal Chawla also weighed in, condemning the “misogynistic narratives surrounding Chakraborty” and described the case as a cautionary tale about the dangers of premature judgment.
Since the CBI reportedly agreed to close the case last weekend, Chakraborty has not publicly commented. However, on Monday, March 24, she was seen visiting a temple with her brother and father, both of whom were also named in a police complaint related to Sushant’s death.
Her brother, Shoik Chakraborty, who spent three months in jail before being granted bail, posted a photo with Rhea on social media along with the Sanskrit phrase “Satyamev Jayate,” meaning “Truth alone triumphs.”
Sushant Singh Rajput’s body was found on June 14, 2020, in his Mumbai apartment. According to Mumbai police, the 34-year-old actor had been suffering from mental health issues and was receiving treatment. The police concluded it was a case of suicide.
Chakraborty, who had been in a relationship with Rajput for about a year and had lived with him shortly before his death, had returned to her parents’ home days before the tragedy.
“Still trying to cope with my feelings… It’s an unhealable pain in my heart… I can never accept that you are no more,” she later wrote on social media, expressing her grief.
However, the situation quickly escalated when Sushant’s father filed a police complaint accusing Chakraborty of stealing money from his son and abetting his suicide. He also denied claims that his son suffered from mental health issues.
The Rajput family has not issued any statements regarding the recent developments.
Chakraborty has consistently denied all allegations and called for a fair investigation. Despite this, her ordeal unfolded under the intense spotlight of India’s 24-hour news cycle during the COVID-19 lockdown, becoming a major national controversy.
She faced extreme misogynistic abuse, with people branding her a “sorcerer,” “gold digger,” “mafia moll,” and “sex trap for rich men.” She was even threatened with rape and death.
India’s leading television anchors dedicated entire shows to the case, accusing her of practicing black magic, inducing Rajput’s suicide, and manipulating him. One viral video showed a male anchor making exaggerated gestures, accusing her of being a drug dealer. A female anchor claimed during a live broadcast that she possessed documents proving Chakraborty’s guilt.
This media-driven hate campaign continued until Chakraborty was arrested three months after Rajput’s death.
She was released after 27 days in jail. Since then, she has attempted to rebuild her life by becoming a motivational speaker, launching a clothing brand, and hosting a podcast with celebrities. She also presents a reality TV show.
Chakraborty has spoken candidly about how the ordeal affected her career and her family. “I tried reaching out to people in the [Hindi film] industry for any role. But I soon realized that nobody wanted to work with me because of everything that happened,” she told Humans of Bombay last year.
“I was angry for a long time. It gave me gastritis and intestinal issues. So forgiving myself became important,” she shared, adding, “I haven’t forgiven everyone. Some people are still on my list.”
While she hasn’t specified if she intends to sue for defamation, many on social media believe she should. So far, neither she nor her lawyer has confirmed legal action.
However, columnist Namita Bhandare noted that seeking compensation in India is a daunting task due to the country’s overloaded judicial system.
“A defamation case could take a decade to resolve. She might decide forgiveness is easier,” Bhandare said.
According to Bhandare, Chakraborty became an easy target because she wasn’t a powerful industry insider. “She was turned into a character for a compelling narrative.”
She further argued that what happened to Chakraborty reflects a deeply ingrained mindset of blaming women for men’s failures and highlighted the toxic nature of social media.
Some of the old videos of prominent anchors making derogatory remarks have resurfaced and are now being widely shared online. Many, including Bollywood celebrities, are demanding public apologies from the media.
“You caused her immense pain for the sake of TRP. Apologize. That’s the least you can do,” actress Dia Mirza posted on Instagram.
Journalist Rohini Singh named specific channels and asked whether they would issue apologies. “If they have any shame or decency, they should apologize profusely for imprisoning her with lies and propaganda,” she posted.
The issue was even raised in Parliament on Tuesday, March 25, where journalist-turned-MP Sagarika Ghosh questioned the media’s conduct.
“The news channels ran a campaign against her. Now that she has been proven innocent, who will return those days of suffering and humiliation?” she asked.
