Central Government Not to Challenge Rhea Chakraborty’s Bail in NDPS Case

The Central government told the Supreme Court of India that the bail granted to Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty will not be challenged. She was granted bail on 4 October 2021, by the Bombay High Court in the cases registered against her under the NDPS Act (Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act). SV Raju, Additional Solicitor General, told the bench, Justice MM Sundresh, and Justice AS Bopanna “We are not challenging the grant of bail, but on the interpretation of Section 27A, please keep it open for consideration. Let the order not be a precedent also.” The Court agreed to this and said, “Union government submits bail is not being challenged. However, the question of law is kept open for consideration at an appropriate time.” Section 27A of the NDPS Act states that “whoever indulges in financing illicit traffic and harboring offenders shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to twenty years and shall also be liable to fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees.”

On September 8, 2021, Rhea Chakraborty was arrested in the BDPS case and a month later on October 4, 2021, she got bail by the Bombay High Court. She along with her brother Showik Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, Dipesh Sawant, and Abdel Basit Parihar was accused of having facilitated the purchase of drugs for consumption by late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Special NDPS Court in Mumbai rejected bail pleas filed by the accused; therefore, they filed bail applications before the Bombay HC. The HC granted bail to Rhea Chakraborty, Samuel Miranda, and Dipesh Sawant but rejected the bail pleas of the other two accused. In an appeal against this order, the Centre approached the Supreme Court more than five months later.

Also Read: Supreme Court Latest Updates