Rhea Chakraborty on ‘media trial’ after death of Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput

Rajput died by suicide aged 34 in June earlier this year

Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty has found herself at the centre of a hate campaign following the death of her former boyfriend and fellow actor Sushant Singh Rajput.

Rajput was found dead aged 34 at his home in Mumbai earlier this year in June, with reports indicating that his death was by suicide.

The BBC has reported that Chakraborty, Rajput’s actor girlfriend, has since become the subject of vicious gossip and vitriol.

Many people, including some of India’s most high-profile journalists, have suggested that the actor was the cause behind Rajput’s death, claiming that she “drove Sushant to suicide”.

Chakraborty has denied any wrongdoing or involvement.

(AFP via Getty Images)

In July, Rajput’s father lodged a formal police complaint accusing Chakraborty of abetting the suicide, a charge that carries the possibility of imprisonment for up to 10 years. Among other claims, he alleged that she had been stealing Rajupt’s money and was overdosing his son on medication. He also denied that Rajput had any mental health issues.

Rajput’s sister Shweta Singh Kirti has also been vocal on Twitter calling for Chakraborty’s arrest under the hashtag, “#ArrestRheaNow”.

Conservative television hosts have called Chakraborty “manipulative” and accused her of performing “black magic”. The actor has been receiving similar abuse on social media.

Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput has died aged 34 (Rex)

Last month, Chakraborty shared an Instagram post which showed a screenshot of a threatening message she had received.

Chakraborty has appealed to India’s Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah for a fair investigation into Rajput’s death. She has also approached the Supreme Court over the “unfair media trial” against her.

Supreme Court advocate Meenakshi Arora has spoken out against the “media trial”, stating: “Although there is no evidence Chakraborty committed a crime, and Rajput’s death is still being investigated, much of the press has already declared the actress guilty.”

Arora concluded, “Legally, this is so wrong.”

Earlier this month, Susan Walker, Rajput’s therapist, issued a statement defending Chakraborty. She called the actor Rajput’s “strongest support” and said that he “depended on her [Chakraborty] as a mother figure”.

Rajput was a rising star in Bollywood when he died, having made his debut in 2008 with the show Kis Desh Mein Hai Meraa Dil. He was then cast in another popular series, Pavitra Rishta, which earnt him a number of Best Actor awards at the Indian Television Academy Awards