A Decade-Long Legal Battle Concludes
The tragic death of popular television actress Pratyusha Banerjee, best known for her iconic role as Anandi in the hit daily soap 'Balika Vadhu', has reached a major legal milestone. Nearly ten years after she was found dead at her Mumbai residence, the Bombay High Court has pronounced its verdict, acquitting her then-boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh of all charges related to abetment to suicide.
A single bench led by Justice Shivkumar Dige based its decision primarily on the final telephonic conversation that took place between Pratyusha and Rahul just moments before she took the extreme step on April 1, 2016. This ruling brings a significant chapter to a close in a case that deeply shook the Indian television industry and left millions of fans heartbroken.
The Tragic Incident of April 2016
Pratyusha Banerjee was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her rented apartment in Goregaon, Mumbai, at the young age of 24. At the time of the incident, she was in a live-in relationship with actor-producer Rahul Raj Singh. It was Rahul who rushed her to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead upon arrival. The sudden demise sent shockwaves across the entertainment fraternity.
Following her death, Pratyusha's grieving parents filed a police complaint against Rahul, alleging that he subjected her to severe physical, mental, and financial harassment, which ultimately drove her to suicide. Based on these allegations, the police registered an FIR against Rahul charging him with abetment of suicide, assault, and criminal intimidation, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.
Court Proceedings and Final Verdict
During the legal proceedings, Rahul's defense counsel argued that the transcript of the final conversation clearly demonstrated that he was discouraging Pratyusha from taking any drastic steps. He had reportedly informed her that he was turning his vehicle around to come and meet her. Conversely, the defense pointed out that Pratyusha blamed various circumstances and her parents during the call for her mental state.
After years of hearings, including the Dindoshi sessions court rejecting his discharge plea in August 2023, the Bombay High Court ultimately ruled in favor of the defense. The court concluded that the available evidence did not establish the charge of abetment, thereby granting Rahul Raj Singh complete relief from the decade-old criminal case.
