The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging the conviction of G. Siddhartha Reddy in the 2002 death of Telugu actress Pratyusha and directed him to surrender within four weeks. The Court also rejected the plea filed by the actress’s mother alleging foul play, holding that the death was caused by poisoning and not by rape or strangulation.
A bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan held that the material on record clearly established the cause of death as poisoning. The Court observed, “Murder by strangulation is ruled out. Two, overwhelming ocular and medical evidence proves death due to poisoning. Three, the offence of rape against the appellant accused is not made out. At the belated stage, it is difficult to allege that the cause of death was rape and strangulation.”
Pratyusha died in Hyderabad on February 24, 2002. According to the prosecution case reflected in the remand report, she and Reddy had been in a relationship for about six years. While her mother accepted the relationship, Reddy’s mother opposed the proposed marriage.
It was alleged that on February 23, 2002, the two purchased a bottle of pesticide, mixed it in a soft drink, and consumed it with the intention of ending their lives. They later reconsidered the decision and drove to Care Hospital in Hyderabad in a car driven by Reddy. Despite receiving medical treatment, Pratyusha died while Reddy survived.
In 2004, the trial court convicted Reddy for abetment of suicide and sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment with a fine of ₹5,000. He was also sentenced to one year’s imprisonment and fined ₹1,000 for attempting suicide.
In 2011, the Andhra Pradesh High Court partly allowed his appeal and reduced the sentence for abetment of suicide from five years to two years.
Before the Supreme Court, Reddy challenged his conviction, while Pratyusha’s mother alleged that the actress had been raped and murdered by strangulation.
The top court rejected both contentions. It held that the medical and ocular evidence did not support allegations of rape or strangulation and that the death occurred due to poisoning. The bench also found no basis to accept the mother’s plea alleging foul play at this stage.
Accordingly, the Court upheld the conviction for abetment of suicide as modified by the High Court and directed Reddy to surrender within four weeks to serve the remaining sentence.
