After the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, former Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey criticised the Mumbai Police’s handling of the initial probe, stating that their approach created “suspicions” among the public.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Pandey alleged that the Mumbai Police “did not cooperate” with the Bihar Police team sent to investigate the case after Rajput’s father lodged an FIR in Patna. “When news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death came, the matter died down within 20 days. After 20 days, his father lodged a case in Patna for the investigation of which a team was sent. But Maharashtra Police did not cooperate. I sent an IPS officer for better coordination. But quarantined him,” he claimed.
#WATCH | On CBI filing closure report in actor Sushant Singh Rajput death case, the then Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey says, “…When news of Sushant Singh Rajput’s death came, the matter died down within 20 days. After 20 days, his father lodged a case in Patna for the… pic.twitter.com/0Ix9O7h3XH
— ANI (@ANI) March 23, 2025
Pandey further stated that the Bihar Police team was turned away after just five days, while the IPS officer he had sent was quarantined for ten days. “CBI took over the case and after years… I don’t want to say anything. CBI investigated this case, I did not get the chance to investigate. My team was turned away after five days and another officer was quarantined for ten days. So, Bihar Police team did not even get the chance to investigate,” he said.
‘Never Said Sushant Singh Killed Or Murdered’: Former Bihar Police Chief
The former Bihar DGP clarified that he never claimed that Rajput was murdered but only that his death was “suspicious” and required a thorough investigation. “There could still be a suspicion that CBI did not get all evidence or maybe some evidence was even destroyed. But I never said that Sushant Singh Rajput was murdered… I just said that it was a suspicious death and it could be investigated properly,” he said.
He also suggested that had the Mumbai Police conducted the probe effectively and addressed public concerns, they would not have faced criticism. “Had Mumbai Police handled the case well and held a press conference and answered all questions, Mumbai Police would not have been defamed,” he remarked.
While refraining from commenting on the CBI’s closure report, Pandey remarked, “I don’t want to say anything on CBI’s closure report because it is a professional agency. What else can it do if it can’t find evidence?” he said.
The CBI filed its closure report in a Mumbai court nearly five years after Rajput’s death. The actor, 34, was found dead at his Bandra residence on 14 June 2020. His postmortem report, conducted at Mumbai’s Cooper Hospital, cited asphyxia as the cause of death.
The case had sparked nationwide outrage, with many demanding “justice” for the late actor. Initially investigated by the Mumbai Police, the case was later handed over to the CBI.
