Rhea Didn't Inform Family About SSR's Drug Consumption As She Herself Enjoyed It: Ankita

Actor Ankita Lokhande on Wednesday said that she never claimed that Sushant Singh Rajput was “murdered” but wanted “justice” for her “late friend” and his family. Rajput, 34, was found dead in his Bandra apartment in June. His death has sparked a lot of controversy in the media.

Lokhande, who met Rajput on the sets of “Pavitra Rishta” and dated him till 2016, had posted “Justice” on her Twitter wall after Rajput’s purported girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

Chakraborty, who has been accused of abetting Rajput’s suicide by his family, was arrested on Tuesday, by the NCB in a drug case linked to the late actor’s death.

Following Chakraborty’s arrest, Lokhande tweeted, “Nothing happens by chance, by fate. You create your own fate by your actions. That’s Karma.”

Now, Lokhande has opened up about her reasons to stand with Rajput’s family as she shared a statement on her social media handles.

“I again clarify, for the reason time and again being asked by the media to me on whether I feel it’s a murder or suicide? I have never said it’s a murder or anyone, in particular, is responsible.

“I always have encouraged justice for my late friend SSR and stood by the bereaved family and truth should be brought out by the investigating agencies,” Lokhande wrote in her statement.

Calling herself a “Maharashtrian and an Indian citizen”, the actor said she has total faith in the state government and central investigative agencies. Lokhande also said that many people have called her names but she never responded to anything and came forward to speak about Rajput when they were together.

“I only came forward to narrate about SSR and his mental health till 2016,” she added. While taking an indirect jibe at Chakraborty’s close friend, actress Shibani Dandekar, and addressing her “haters”, Lokhande said Chakraborty was the closest person to the actor and so she should not have let him consume drugs.

“When she very well knew about his mental state by publicly stating that he was in depression. Should she have allowed a depressed man to consume drugs? How is that going to help? His condition would deteriorate to a level that would make a man take the action that SSR has allegedly taken. She was the closest person to him at that time,” Lokhande claimed.

The actor said that on one hand, Chakraborty was coordinating with Rajput’s doctors regarding his health issues, but on the other hand, she was “coordinating drug logistics for him”.

“Would anyone, who claims to have loved someone so deeply, allow the other person to consume drugs claiming to know his mental state and condition? Would you do that? I don’t think anyone would. So how can it not be seen as an act of carelessness and irresponsibility?” Lokhande claimed.

The actor also raised questions as to why Rajput’s family was not informed about his depression as well as his issues with drugs.

“As per her, she informed his family about his ongoing treatment but did she ever inform them about his drug consumption? I am sure she didn’t because maybe she, herself, enjoyed consuming it. And this is why I feel it’s Karma/Fate,” she added.

Lokhande said she will continue to support Rajput’s family while asking her haters to maintain civility. Her post comes after Shibani Dandekar indirectly slammed Lokhande for “knowing a lot about fate and karma.” Even though Dandekar didn’t mention Lokhande on her post, she did write that, “you know who you are.”

Rajput’s sister Shweta Singh Kirti supported Lokhande even as she commented on the latter’s post: “Bang on.”

(with inputs from PTI)