Pratyusha Banerjee wanted to file case against her parents, claims Rahul’s father

Two days after TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee was found dead at her residence, her boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh was today hospitalized after he complained of breathing problems before he was to face a second day of questioning by police over her death. Rahul, a TV producer, was taken to Shree Sai Hospital in suburban Kandivali after he complained of chest pain, low blood pressure and a bout of depression.

“Rahul has been admitted to ICU. His condition is very fragile. He hasn’t eaten. He is in a state of depression after Pratyusha’s death. The doctors say if this continues, he will have brain haemorrhage,” his lawyer Neeraj Gupta said.

24-year-old Pratyusha, who shot to fame with the portrayal of Anandi in hit TV series “Balika Vadhu”, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her home on April 1, in what appeared to be a case of suicide. The reason for the extreme step is not yet known, but Pratyusha was reportedly facing problems in her relationship with Rahul.

Speculation was rife that Pratyusha was two months pregnant at the time of her death. This was, however, scotched by the investigating officer, who said they have not received any report by the doctors which suggest that the actress was pregnant.

“She wasn’t pregnant because the doctors have not informed the police verbally or in writing about it. Her viscera report which will come in a month will give a proper analysis. If there is any pregnancy indication in that report, then we will ask Rahul and her friends about it,” an investigating officer told PTI.

Police said that Pratyusha and Rahul’s common friends told them that the couple were planning to get married on April 14, on the auspicious occasion of Bengali New Year.

Rahul’s father Harshwardhan has said that Pratyusha had money troubles and had taken a loan of Rs 50 lakh for her parents. “Pratyusha had come to Ranchi. She told me she wanted to get married to Rahul… Pratyusha had said she wanted to file a case against her parents. She never had any bank account. It was joint account and her money was being handled by her parents,” Harshwardhan told reporters.

“All her money was taken by her parents. She had taken loan for more than Rs 50 lakh for her parents. She was under pressure because of this. Financiers used to call her. I used to send money to Pratyusha, sometimes Rs 10,000. If she was earning well then why did she go bankrupt.” Taking the investigation further after police launched a probe in the suicide case yesterday, cops are planning to reach out to friends (particularly males) of Pratyusha who in the past may have had tiffs with the actress.

“We will further check Facebook and Twitter accounts of Rahul and Pratyusha and would also inquire with their common friends with regard to the case,” a police official said here. If there is any contradiction, Rahul will be further questioned, he said.

A team of investigators went this morning to Pratyusha’s house in Goregaon to look for evidence. Yesterday, Rahul’s statement was recorded till late in the evening at Bangurnagar police station. Also, police searched Pratyusha’s house and had found two mobile phones. According to police, the probe so far had not found anything pointing to abetment of suicide by Rahul.

Besides, Pratyusha’s parents didn’t level any allegations against Rahul in their statement. Her parents said Pratyusha and her boyfriend did fight sometimes, but patched up soon thereafter. Some of Pratyusha’s friends, however, said that things were not going well in her personal life.

According to police, the actress, prima facie, committed suicide in her flat in ‘At Harmony’ building in Goregaon after which she was taken to Kokilaben Hospital in suburban Andheri by her friend, where she was declared brought dead.

As per preliminary report of doctors, “provisional cause of death” was asphyxia, a police officer said. Her viscera has been sent to a lab for chemical analysis, and its report only would conclusively decide the cause of death. Her last rites were performed at Oshiwara crematorium last evening.

Pratyusha was 18 when she was selected to play the grown-up Anandi in “Balika Vadhu”. After exiting from the daily soap, she appeared in reality shows “Bigg Boss 7” and “Jhalak Dikhla Jaa”. She was last seen in TV show “Hum Hain Naa”.