Nearly 10 years after Pratyusha Banerjee died by suicide, the Bombay High Court has discharged her former boyfriend, Rahul Raj Singh, in the alleged abetment-to-suicide case. The ruling brings significant relief to Rahul, who had been facing the prospect of trial since the investigation began in 2016.
Justice Shivkumar G Dige allowed Rahul’s revision plea challenging the Dindoshi Sessions Court’s August 2023 decision to reject his discharge application. The court decision was based on a recorded telephone conversation between the couple shortly before Pratyusha’s death. Rahul was reportedly heard trying to prevent her from taking an extreme step. He allegedly told her that he had turned his car around and was on his way to meet her.
Pratyusha, best remembered for playing Anandi in Balika Vadhu, was found dead at her rented Goregaon apartment on April 1, 2016, aged 24. Following a complaint by her mother, Rahul was booked for alleged abetment of suicide, assault and criminal intimidation. The prosecution cited witness statements suggesting harassment, while Rahul’s defence argued that the evidence did not establish grounds for prosecution.
His lawyers also pointed to statements allegedly supporting his attempts to revive Pratyusha and rush her to hospital. They disputed claims that he had created hurdles in her television career. The defence further noted that the couple planned to marry in December 2016 and questioned the haste in registering the FIR, which was filed without a suicide note.
