Sushant verdict: Raut says no one above law

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the transfer of Patna Police's first information report in actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, and said the Maharashtra government needs to introspect on the way it handled the case.

Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14 following which the Mumbai Police recorded statements of 56 people, including Rajput's sisters, actress Rhea Chakraborty and some other film personalities.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the transfer of an FIR, lodged at Patna against Rhea Chakraborty and others for allegedly abetting Rajput's suicide, to the CBI.

The apex court said the Bihar government is competent to transfer the case to the CBI for investigation.

Reacting to the verdict, Fadnavis, who is Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, said they now expect justice in the case.

'A decision that boosts faith in the judiciary system! Maharashtra government now needs to introspect on the way they handled this case. Now, we expect justice in #SushantSinghRajput case and for his fans,' the former state chief minister tweeted.

However, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters that Maharashtra has always been at the forefront of fighting for truth and justice.

"Doubting the integrity of Mumbai Police was a 'conspiracy'," Raut said, alleging that politicians maligned the Mumbai Police.

He, however, did not take any name.

The Shiv Sena leader said the Mumbai Police had probed the case 'in all fairness'.

"Nobody is above law. With the Supreme Court giving its judgment, it is not right to make a political comment," the Rajya Sabha member said.

Asked if the verdict was a setback to the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government, Raut said, "Such things do happen in legal battles."

On whether the state government will challenge the verdict, Raut said it will respond after getting the copy of the judgment.

On allegations against Shiv Sena leader and state minister Aaditya Thackeray in the case, Raut said, "There are no allegations."

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said he will comment only after studying the apex court's order.

"The Supreme Court's verdict has come. We will study the order after receiving copy of the order. Only then I will comment on the issue," he told reporters in Mumbai.

Senior BJP leader and former state minister Ashish Shelar alleged that the Mumbai Police seemed to be 'pressurised by someone' in the Maha Vikash Aghadi government.

"It is imperative to find out who was behind it," he said.

Justice triumphs: Ravi Shankar Prasad

BJP leader and Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday hailed the order as a triumph of justice.

He also praised the 'exemplary courage' shown by the actor's family and the 'overpowering desire of the people of India' to see justice in the case and called it a new milestone.

'Justice triumphs! The soul of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput will surely now rest in peace with the assurance of a fair investigation by CBI on the FIR filed in Patna by Bihar Police whose request for transfer of case to CBI has been validated by the Supreme Court,' Prasad tweeted.

BJP, allies welcome SC verdict

The BJP and its allies on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court order and slammed the Maharashtra government for its alleged attempts to stall the investigation.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the CBI probe will lead to justice.

'People are happy with the Supreme Court verdict. We are confident that truth will now come out. The Maharashtra government had been stalling the investigation...,' he said.

Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan, who has been an early votary of a CBI probe in the matter, said the SC's verdict has 'respected' sentiments of crores of people.

In a tweet, he expressed confidence that the CBI will not only bring out truth but also 'expose' those who tried to mislead the probe in the case of alleged suicide.

BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao said, 'Supreme Court's welcome verdict on #CBIForSSR has given relief to millions; his family members, relatives, friends, fans, followers and the people who are for justice. Hope investigation will be smooth, swift & fair. Power of people and power of judiciary are intact.'

The Janata Dal-United has also welcomed the verdict.