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discharges Rahul Raj Singh from Pratyusha Banerjee suicide case after decade
In a significant development nearly a decade after the tragic death of television actress Pratyusha Banerjee, the has discharged her former boyfriend, event planner Rahul Raj Singh (also named as Rahul Harshvardhan Singh in court records), from the case alleging . Justice Shivkumar Dige, presiding over the , set aside the 's order that had earlier refused to discharge Singh.
A Decade-Long Legal Battle
Pratyusha Banerjee, widely known for her role in the popular TV series "Balika Vadhu," was found dead in her rented apartment in Goregaon, Mumbai, on . The police registered a case under (abetment to suicide) based on a complaint filed by Banerjee's parents. They alleged that Singh, with whom Banerjee was in a for about eight months, had subjected their daughter to continuous harassment, driving her to take the extreme step.
Singh was arrested and later granted by the in . In , the filed a , prompting Singh to file a before the . However, in , the Additional Sessions Judge, Mumbai, rejected his plea, observing that the statements of Banerjee's friends and family pointed to a "violent and abusive" relationship. Singh then challenged this order before the High Court.
Arguments on Both Sides
Senior Advocate , representing Singh, argued that the allegations were false and lacked evidentiary support. He highlighted that Banerjee had never filed a complaint against Singh during their relationship. Crucially, Ponda pointed to the last phone call between the duo just before the suicide, where Singh was heard imploring Banerjee not to take any drastic step until his arrival. He also noted the four-day delay in filing the FIR, suggesting that the narrative of harassment was manufactured.
On the other hand, the State, represented by Additional Public Prosecutor , and the complainant's counsel, Advocate , contended that Singh was possessive and frequently quarreled with and assaulted Banerjee. They claimed that the deceased's family had witnessed the harassment firsthand and that the suicide was a direct result of Singh's abusive behavior.
Court's Legal Analysis
Justice Dige scrutinized the material on record and found a glaring absence of evidence to support the allegation of harassment. The judge placed significant weight on the circumstances surrounding the suicide, particularly the last phone conversation.
"Though it is alleged that the applicant had been harassing the deceased, no evidence is produced on record in that regard,"
the court observed.
"It is significant to note that there was a last call between the applicant and the deceased before she committed suicide. During the said call, the applicant was imploring the deceased not to take any extreme steps till his arrival."
The judgment further noted that after the incident, Singh rushed to the spot and took Banerjee to the hospital in a bid to save her life. He himself was later hospitalized due to the trauma. The court also highlighted that Banerjee had never lodged any complaint against Singh while they were living together.
"From the evidence on record, there is nothing to show that the applicant
the deceased to commit suicide. There is no case at all against the applicant,"
Justice Dige concluded.
The Final Verdict
Allowing the revision application, the High Court discharged Singh from Sessions Case No. 315 of 2016, effectively ending the decade-long prosecution. The order brings closure to a case that had captivated public attention and sparked debates about the dynamics of live-in relationships and the legal standards for .
The decision underscores the principle that mere allegations, unsupported by credible evidence, cannot sustain a charge of abetment, especially when the accused's actions immediately before the incident suggest a desire to prevent the tragedy.
