23 Years Later, Justice In Actress Pratyusha Case?

Years have passed. A case that was in news for days and a few years and was widely debated in media following the suspicious death of young actress Pratyusha, eventually died down.

While the actual cause was alleged to be physical assault and subsequent murder of the actress by a few privileged kids including those of politicians by Pratyusha’s mother, the case could not stand for lack of evidence. But the mother who lost her daughter under suspicious circumstances did not give up.

On February 3, 2002, Pratyusha who was 12 films old and was doing good in the Telugu and Tamil film industries died in Care Hospital, Hyderabad. Despite several doubts, it was said that she committed suicide as a pact with her boyfriend Siddharth Reddy. While Pratyusha died, Siddharth Reddy survived.

In 2004, a Hyderabad Court sentenced Siddharth Reddy to 5 years in jail. Cut to 2025, the Supreme Court reserved its judgement in the case following fresh arguments.

Now, the Supreme Court has dismissed a petition filed by Siddharth Reddy in the case. It ordered Siddharth Reddy to surrender within four weeks.

Though Pratyusha had a small career span, her death under suspicious conditions led to many following the case. Now, 23 years later, many who believed Pratyusha did not get justice, are waiting to see if Siddharth Reddy who allegedly abetted Pratyusha to commit suicide, will be sentenced.