Bombay HC orders return of Rhea Chakraborty’s passport, eases bail conditions

The Bombay High Court has directed the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to return actor Rhea Chakraborty’s passport and relax certain bail conditions imposed in the 2020 drugs case linked to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, as per reports. 

Rhea was arrested in September 2020 and obtained bail the next month, under conditions that she surrender her passport and obtain prior court permission for overseas travel. In a fresh plea, filed via advocate Ayaz Khan, she argued that those travel restrictions caused delays and forced her to miss professional commitments. 

While the NCB opposed the move cautioning against special treatment for celebrities, the court noted that similar relaxations were granted to other accused, and that Rhea had consistently adhered to her bail conditions. The bench ruled there was no reason to doubt her availability to face trial. 

The court has laid down travel protocols for her:

She must submit her full itinerary (hotel, flights) to the prosecuting agency at least 4 days before departure. 

Rhea must keep her phone switched on during travel and notify authorities upon return. 

She continues to be required to appear for trial unless exempted by the court.