Court Accepts Rhea Chakraborty's Plea, Defreezes Bank Accounts & Returns Gadgets After 10 Months

A year after Rhea Chakraborty's plea, a special court under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance (NDPS) Act has ordered defreezing her bank accounts.

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The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) froze Rhea's bank accounts after the actress was booked in the drugs case following actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death in June 2020.

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In her plea for defreezing her bank accounts, Rhea Chakraborty said she is 'an actor/model by profession' and that 'NCB froze the bank accounts and FDs by Notice dated 16/09/2020 without reason, and it is causing grave injustice and prejudice to her'.

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According to a report in India today, in her application, Rhea stated that the operation of a bank account is a mandate for making the payment of her employees' salaries. She also urged that she needs to fulfil various tax liabilities, including GST payments, etc.

In her plea, Rhea mentioned that she is an independent working woman who supports her lifestyle from the amount in the bank accounts. Her brother is also dependent on her.

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Rhea added that her bank accounts had been frozen for ten months.

Special Public Prosecutor Atul Sarpande representing the NCB, opposed the application stating an incomplete financial investigation in the case.

Objecting to the same, Sarpande said defreezing the account could 'hamper' the investigation.

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Special judge DB Mane said, "From the reply of the investigating officer, it appears that there is no strong objection from the NCB side for defreezing the bank accounts and FDs of Chakraborty." The judge added,

"In such circumstances, Chakraborty is entitled to defreezing her bank accounts and FDs subject to conditions and undertaking supported by an affidavit stating that during the pendency and conclusion of the trial of the case, she shall make the balance amount, as shown in the concerned account as on 16/09/2020, available for passing necessary orders, as and when required."

In another plea, Rhea Chakraborty requested the court hand over her gadgets, including a Macbook Pro Apple Laptop and Apple iPhone. Atul Sarpande said that the articles were seized and sent to the laboratory.

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The investigating officer has communicated the development to Rhea and has given her a green signal to collect her property.

The court, in its orders, wants the gadgets to be returned to Rhea on 'Supurtnama' after due verification and identification. The court has also executed an indemnity bond for Rs 1,00,000.