Don't question Mumbai cops' ability to handle Sushant case: CM

In Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death row, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asserted that Mumbai Police was capable of probing the case alone. Thackeray lashed out at Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis for raising doubts on the credibility of the Mumbai police in handling the case despite being a chief minister for five years.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has said that he deplored attempts to question the efficiency of the Mumbai Police in handling the probe into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

He said the state police were capable of probing the case, an assertion which comes in the backdrop of the growing clamour for a CBI probe in the actor's death here in June.

Speaking on Friday, Thackeray lashed out at Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, saying the BJP politician had doubted the credibility of the Mumbai police in handling the case despite being a chief minister for five years. "The opposition can even bring Interpol or followers of the Namaste Trump event into the inquiry. Devendra Fadnavis should understand that it is the same police whom he has worked within the last five years," Thackeray said at an event organised by a Marathi news channel.

Earlier in the day, Fadnavis said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) should register an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in connection with the money laundering angle in the death case of Rajput. There is a "huge public sentiment" about handing over the case to the CBI, but the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha VikasAghadi (MVA) government in the state has been reluctant to do so, the former BJP chief minister said.

Thackeray said the Mumbai police have been "corona warriors" and many personnel in the force have died due to the infection. To question their efficiency is an insult to them and "I condemn this," he added. Thackeray said if anyone has any proof related to the case, he/she can bring it to the Mumbai police. "We will interrogate and punish the guilty. However, please don't use this case as a Maharashtra versus Bihar issue. This is the most deplorable thing to do," he said.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had recently said that the Mumbai Police are capable of handling the matter and that there was no need for a CBI probe into the case. The Mumbai police have recorded the statements of Bollywood personalities, including Sanjay Leela Bhansali, film critic Rajeev Masand, actress Sanjana Sanghi, the actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, casting director Shanoo Sharma, filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra, and Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films.

The police have so far recorded statements of around 40 people, including those of Rajput's family and his cook. Rajput, 34, was found hanging at his apartment in suburban Bandra on June 14. A Bihar police team is probing a separate 'abetment to suicide' case on the basis of a complaint filed by the late actor's father in Patna.

Speaking at the event, the CM said he wasn't bothered about the stability of his government as long as he enjoys the support of the people of the state and Shiv Sainiks. "The BJP says our government is against the mandate. Then is destabilising democratically-elected governments a mandate?" he asked.

Thackeray, who is also the Shiv Sena president, said his party and the BJP have "divorced" now so the national party need not bother about what his outfit does.

"We were in a relationship with the BJP for 30 years, but they did not trust us. But those with whom we had political differences for 30 years trusted us," Thackeray said, referring to the NCP and the Congress, who are part of the Shiv Sena-led government.

Inputs from PTI