In a case that has reverberated across the nation, the Supreme Court has delivered its final verdict regarding the death of Telugu actress Pratyusha. The court has instructed the accused, Siddharth Reddy, to surrender to the police immediately while dismissing his bail petition. The Supreme Court has upheld the two-year prison sentence imposed by the High Court in connection with Pratyusha’s murder case.
Pratyusha, who was pursuing her intermediate education at the time, fell in love with Siddharth Reddy, a young engineering student. During her rise as a leading actress, their relationship faced several challenges. On the evening of February 23, 2002, the couple reportedly consumed poison after a dispute. They were admitted to a private hospital for treatment, but Pratyusha succumbed to her condition the following day, while Siddharth was discharged on March 9. Police investigations revealed that the incident was due to poison mixed in a soft drink.
Before her death, a team of three doctors appointed by the government concluded that there was no sexual assault on Pratyusha. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reported that Siddharth Reddy had instigated Pratyusha’s suicide. In the aftermath of the investigation, charges were filed against him under sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 309 (attempt to commit suicide) of the Indian Penal Code. In 2004, a Hyderabad Metropolitan Sessions Judge sentenced him to five years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000. Siddharth subsequently challenged this verdict in the High Court, leading to a reduction of his sentence to two years in 2011, providing him with a brief reprieve. However, the recent Supreme Court ruling has reinstated the two-year jail term, urging Siddharth to surrender within four weeks.
On the fateful day of February 23, 2002, Pratyusha’s mother recounted her daughter’s last moments. They were preparing to travel to Bangalore for a significant opportunity in a Kannada film, and Pratyusha was in high spirits. After a visit to a beauty salon with her cousin, Siddharth arrived to wait for her to finish her facial. Pratyusha then stepped outside with him, promising to return shortly. The last phone call she made to her mother mentioned her confirmation as a heroine in a film, yet she never returned to the salon afterward, leaving her family in a state of confusion and despair.
The post-mortem of Pratyusha was conducted at NIMS, where her mother described the signs visible on her neck, suggesting foul play. Despite the hospital’s explanation attributing these marks to treatment, the family remained unconvinced. They expressed regret over the handling of her remains and the belief that a re-examination could have unveiled the truth behind her tragic death.
Pratyusha’s career was marked by her performances in approximately 12 films between 1998 and 2002, where she gained recognition in notable Telugu movies such as “Rayudu,” “Sri Ramulayya,” “Samudram,” and “Kalusukovalani.” Her untimely death at the peak of her career sent shockwaves through the film industry, prompting a broader conversation about the challenges faced by young actors and the circumstances surrounding mental health and relationships in the high-pressure environment of the entertainment world.
