Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Sep 30: In a significant relief to actress Rhea Chakraborty, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to return her passport, which was seized in 2020 during investigations into a drug case linked to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

The decision came from a bench led by Justice Neela Gokhale, which observed that there was no reason to suspect the actress’s intentions, particularly given her cooperation throughout the legal process. The court, however, imposed certain conditions to ensure compliance.

Chakraborty, who had been arrested in September 2020 by the NCB and later released on bail, had surrendered her passport as part of her bail conditions. In a fresh application filed through her lawyer Ayaz Khan, she sought the return of her passport to pursue professional work opportunities abroad.

The court agreed, noting that similar relief had been granted to other accused in the same case. It ordered that Chakraborty:

• Must attend every court hearing unless granted exemption by the trial court,
• Share flight and hotel details with the prosecution at least four days prior to any international travel,
• Keep her mobile number active,
• And inform the investigating agency immediately upon returning to India.

While the NCB opposed the plea, arguing that Chakraborty’s celebrity status should not entitle her to special treatment and warning of a risk of absconding, the court found the concerns unsubstantiated based on her record of compliance.

Chakraborty’s legal team argued that the travel restrictions had significantly hindered her ability to work abroad. The court acknowledged this and stated that professional commitments cannot be indefinitely blocked without sufficient legal grounds.

The ruling marks another step in the long-running case that began after Rajput's death on June 14, 2020, which sparked widespread media coverage and multiple investigations involving drugs, mental health, and Bollywood.