In a significant relief for Rhea Chakraborty, the Bombay High Court has directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to return her passport, which had been seized in connection with the 2020 drugs case linked to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The passport was initially taken into custody as part of her bail conditions following her arrest in September 2020.
Rhea Chakraborty's legal team had filed an application arguing that the passport impoundment was causing delays in her work and leading to missed professional opportunities, including shoots, auditions, and meetings abroad. The NCB opposed the petition, cautioning against special privileges for celebrities and raising concerns about the risk of the accused potentially fleeing.
However, Justice Neela Gokhale of the Bombay High Court, pointed out that similar relief had been granted to other accused individuals in the same case. The court also acknowledged Rhea Chakraborty's cooperation throughout the trial, noting her consistent presence during hearings and her compliance with the conditions of her previous foreign travels. The court stated that there was no reason to doubt her presence during trial proceedings.
While ordering the return of the passport, the Bombay High Court has laid down certain conditions: * Rhea Chakraborty must attend every hearing unless exempted by the trial court. * She must provide her full travel itinerary, including flight and hotel details, to the prosecution at least four days before departure. * She must share her mobile number, keep her phone active, and inform the agencies immediately upon her return. * She has also been instructed to provide her phone number to the prosecution agency and keep her phone switched on at all times, and to notify the agency upon her return to India.
The decision to return Rhea Chakraborty's passport underscores the court's commitment to upholding procedural fairness, balancing the enforcement of legal conditions with individual rights. It acknowledges her compliance with bail conditions and reinforces the principle that those who adhere to court orders should not face unnecessary restrictions. This move is expected to ease travel restrictions for Rhea Chakraborty, allowing her greater freedom of movement while she continues to comply with the ongoing trial requirements.
