Swara Bhasker came in support of actress Rhea Chakraborty once again. She compared the media’s treatment towards Rhea with the Salem witch trials in the 17th century. In The Week, Swara wrote, “In recent weeks, I’ve often thought of The Crucible as I watched the public sentiment around the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, ostensibly by suicide, turn from emotional outpouring of grief by fans into a media-fuelled hysteria and blind certitude that he was murdered."
The actress further added that the attention was diverted to Rhea after Sushant’s father filed an FIR against her in Patna. She wrote, “This led to a shocking slander campaign and hysterical media trial that has practically declared Rhea to be a murderess, with no proof, based on contorted facts, rank misinformation and what are now being proven to be lies.”
Even though Rhea has been investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Enforcement Directorate, Swara went on to write, “She has been vilified and called slanderous names by social media ecosystems and #JusticeForSushant ‘warriors’. Salacious conspiracy theories about her have done the rounds and she, her family and staff at her building have been physically hounded by shameless media personnel.”
Swara even said that there has been no evidence to prove that Sushant Singh Rajput was murdered, “evidence that suggests that Rajput’s family has lied is emerging.” She said that along with Sushant, public decency also seems to have died, “watching this case play out and turn into a senseless, hysterical, conspiracy-heavy TV soap-like reality-show, one cannot help but wonder at the human condition.”
This isn’t the first time that Swara has spoken in defence of Rhea. On August 10, Swara tweeted, “Rhea is being subjected to a bizarre & dangerous media trial fuel led by hugely problematic impulses of mob justice. I hope the Hon’ble #SupremeCourt will pay heed & take fake news spinners & conspiracy theorists like Repooplic, Poopindia & others to task. Let the law decide.”
Meanwhile, on Monday, Rhea Chakraborty filed a counter complaint against two of Sushant Singh Rajput’s sisters for procuring a forged prescription for him a few days before his death. Mumbai Police registered the FIR and the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI, as per Supreme Court directives.
