A special court under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has granted actor Rhea Chakraborty permission to travel abroad for professional engagements between June 1 and September 15, 2025. The court order, issued by Special Judge CS Datir on May 29, noted that Chakraborty had previously traveled internationally with the court’s authorization and had fully adhered to all bail terms. The court observed that there was no instance where she had violated the bail conditions.
Chakraborty was initially arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on September 8, 2020, along with her brother Showik and others, following allegations of financing and procuring drugs for Sushant Singh Rajput's consumption. The case originated from a complaint filed by Rajput's father, which subsequently led to a broader investigation into drug use within the film industry. The Bombay High Court had granted Chakraborty bail in October 2020.
In her recent application to the NDPS court, Chakraborty stated that she is required to travel for the filming of "Stepsons S1," an international production. She requested the temporary release of her passport for visa processing, emphasizing that she had traveled abroad previously without any issues. The prosecution, however, opposed the plea, arguing that there was a lack of documentation confirming her role in the series and raising concerns about the possibility of her absconding. The court rejected these concerns, pointing out that Chakraborty is a resident of Mumbai.
The court, while granting permission, directed the actor to submit her detailed travel itinerary, including addresses and contact information for her stay abroad.
In March 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, clearing Chakraborty of abetment charges. The CBI had taken over the investigation from the Mumbai Police following allegations made by Rajput’s father.
In February 2024, Chakraborty sought permission from the trial court to travel abroad for professional work, which was one of the conditions stipulated in her bail order in the NDPS case. It was during this process that she learned about Lookout Circulars (LOCs) issued against her and her family. The Bombay High Court later quashed these LOCs.
Previously, in March 2024, the NDPS court had allowed Rhea and her brother Showik to travel to Thailand for a family holiday and to Sri Lanka for Holi celebrations. The court considered that Chakraborty's profession requires her to travel abroad for various assignments, and any impediment would directly affect her right to earn a livelihood.
