Sushant Singh Rajput Case: Patna cop in Mumbai "forced into quarantine"

Guwahati: An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from Bihar, in Mumbai to probe the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, was forcibly quarantined by civic authorities, the eastern state's police chief has alleged.

Bihar's Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey tweeted the charge on Sunday. Vinay Tiwari, heading a Patna Police team which is in Mumbai, had reached the city earlier in the day, to investigate an "abetment to suicide" case on the basis of a FIR filed by the late actor's father in Patna.

"IPS officer Vinay Tiwari reached Mumbai today from Patna on official duty to lead the police team there but he has been forcibly quarantined by BMC officials at 11 PM today," Pandey tweeted. "He was not provided accommodation in the IPS mess, despite his request, and was staying in a Guest House in Goregaon," he said.

Another tweet posted by the state police chief has a video of Mr Tiwari, in a blue t-shirt and a mask, showing his quarantine stamp.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has reacted to the tussle, saying, "Whatever happened to him (the officer) is not right."

Nitish Kumar said this morning, "Whatever happened to him (the police officer) is not right. It is not political. Bihar Police is carrying out its duty. Our DGP will speak to them." He said Bihar Police is simply carrying out its duty as per law.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that police officer Vinay Tiwari has been quarantined "as per the present guidelines for domestic arrivals at Mumbai Airport." The civic body said the officer has also been "guided to apply to the competent authority of MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) for exemption in the home quarantine period..."

Meanwhile, sources from Mumbai Police said that although Mumbai Police offered full cooperation to the team from Patna, the Bihar Police team has not followed protocols and courtesies that are due while conducting investigations in the jurisdiction of another force, especially when there is an on-going investigation.

Some sources alleged that Bihar Police has not kept Mumbai Police informed about its moves and the people they want to question in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June. Mr Tiwari said he was in the city to supervise his team and that they will investigate all possible angles in the case. "Mumbai Police are probing the case as per their style and we will do so as per ours. If required. We will also record the statements of Bollywood celebrities whose statements were recorded by the Mumbai Police," he said. "The investigation is progressing in a proper way and we are going in the right direction. Our team is here to get all the important documents related to the case," he added.

"We are trying to speak with the DGP and other officials there. I don't have more to say on this," Mr Pandey said this morning.

''I condemn this incident. I would like to ask Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister that the entire country wants to solve Sushant Singh Rajput's death mystery. Bihar Police officials have been coming to Mumbai nowadays in connection with this case but you are not supporting them. You did not quarantine them but when an IPS officer came ahead to solve this case, he was forcibly quarantined," said Vinod Mishra, a corporator and BJP leader in Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), said.

Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14. The actor's father lodged a police complaint against actor Rhea Chakraborty and her family members and the department registered a first information report (FIR) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including abetment to suicide.

Rajput's father alleged that Chakraborty and her family kept his son away from his family, handled his bank accounts, and took away crores of rupees

Mumbai Police has so far recorded statements of nearly 40 people, including those from the actor's family, his cook as well as people from the film industry including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt.

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