With Sushant Singh Rajput’s death reigniting the nepotism debate in Bollywood, Kangana Ranaut has been making powerful statements about the industry and Sushant.
Referring to the police probe into Sushant’s death, she said that she is currently in Manali and had requested the Mumbai police to send someone to record her statement, but there has been no response. Speaking in a television interview, she said that she is willing to return her Padma Shri if her claims about Sushant’s demise are proven wrong.
They (Mumbai Police) summoned me, and I asked them too, that I'm in Manali, that you can send somebody to take my statement, but I have not received anything after that. I am telling you, if I have said anything, which I can't testify, which I can't prove, and which is not in public domain, I will return my Padma Shri," Kangana told Republic TV.
In a video shared after his death in June, Kangana had called out Bollywood and its 'privilege' club. In the video, she questioned if his death was indeed suicide or 'planned murder' by an industry that does not acknowledge outsiders.
In another interview to Pinkvilla, Kangana said that she knew the actor was 'anxious about work'. She added that though she had never met Sushant, they had common friends.
Sushant died of suicide on June 14, and the Mumbai police is also probing the angle of ‘professional rivalry’ in the case.
On Thursday, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh ruled out the need for a CBI inquiry and said the Mumbai police is ‘competent enough’. He also said that the Mumbai Police do not see any foul play and details of the case will be shared once the investigation is completed.
Deshmukh’s statements came after Sushant’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty took to social media to request Union Home Minister Amit Shah for CBI inquiry. Along with a picture of Sushant, Rhea shared on Instagram: “Respected @amitshahofficial sir, I’m Sushant Singh Rajput’s girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, it is now over a month since his sudden demise. I have complete faith in the government, however in the interest of justice, I request you with folded hands to initiate a CBI enquiry into this matter. I only want to understand what pressures prompted Sushant to take this step. Yours sincerely, Rhea Chakraborty #satyamevajayate”.