**Bombay High Court Directs NCB to Return Rhea Chakraborty’s Passport**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Sep 30, 2025 | 2:05 PM*
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The Bombay High Court has ordered the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to return actor Rhea Chakraborty’s passport, marking a significant relief for the actress involved in a high-profile drugs case.
### Background
Rhea Chakraborty was arrested in September 2020 in connection with a drug investigation following the untimely death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. She was granted bail the following month, under conditions that required her to deposit her passport with the NCB and seek court permission for any international travel.
### Bail Condition and Its Impact
As part of her bail terms, Chakraborty had to surrender her passport to the authorities and obtain approval before traveling abroad. However, this restriction caused her to miss important professional opportunities, as international travel is often essential for shoots, meetings, and auditions in her line of work.
### The Plea and Arguments
Through her advocate, Ayaz Khan, Chakraborty filed a plea highlighting that the passport confiscation affected her career, despite her full compliance with all bail conditions. Khan emphasized her need for frequent foreign trips to fulfill professional commitments.
The NCB, represented by advocate SK Halwasia, opposed the plea, suggesting that granting such relaxation could amount to special treatment due to her celebrity status and raised concerns over potential flight risk.
### Court’s Observations
Justice Neela Gokhale noted that similar relaxations had previously been granted to other accused in the case. She remarked that Chakraborty had cooperated fully with the investigation, returned promptly after all sanctioned foreign trips, and never violated any bail conditions.
The court stated there was “no reason to doubt” Chakraborty’s availability for the trial’s conclusion and thus found no justification to deny her request.
### Conditions Imposed by the Court
While approving the return of her passport, the court set certain conditions to ensure trial proceedings are not hampered:
– Chakraborty must attend all trial dates unless excused by the trial court.
– For any foreign travel, she must submit a detailed itinerary—including hotel and flight information—to the prosecuting agency at least four days in advance.
### Case Update
In March, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a closure report regarding Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, concluding there was no evidence of foul play in the case.
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This court decision comes as a welcome relief for Rhea Chakraborty, allowing her greater freedom to manage her professional commitments while remaining compliant with legal obligations.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/bombay-hc-tells-ncb-to-give-rhea-her-passport-back/story