On June 14, 2020, actor Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide.
His death plunged into controversy after his father K K Singh lodged an FIR in Patna on July 28 against Sushant's girlfriend Rhea Chakaraborty and six others, including members of her family, for abetment to suicide.
On August 19, the Supreme Court ordered a CBI investigation into Sushant's death.
As the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Narcotics Control Bureau began probing the death, some 'news' television channels ran a continous campaign of calumny against Rhea and her family, allegations that will one day hopefully haunt these so-called media outlets.
Some days later, the NCB arrested Rhea and her brother Showik for alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
Rhea spent 28 days in jail before the Bombay high court granted her bail. Showik is still in prison.
On October 3, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences' Forensic Medical Board, which looked into Sushant's death ruled out murder.
In the second of a year-end series Dominic Xavier recalls the media mayhem unleashed after the actor took his life and the bizarre role central agencies continue to play in the case.
Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'You cannot judge and hang on a TV channel'
'Selective bloodlust was unleashed on Rhea'
A force, a firefly. Shine on Sushant
Why Rhea's case should send shivers down our spines
Rhea Chakraborty and India's drug of choice