Ballika Vadhu Actress Pratyusha Banerjee’s Death: Cops Question Boyfriend

Actress Pratyusha Banerjee, whose death at the age of 24 is being investigated as a possible suicide, was taken to Mumbai’s Kokilaben Ambani Hospital on Friday by her boyfriend Rahul Raj, sources say. Pratyusha, best-known for playing the lead character of Anandi on TV show Balika Vadhu, allegedly hanged herself at home and was declared dead at the hospital. Her body has now been sent to Mumbai’s Sidharth Hospital for a post-mortem.

Rahul Raj, who owns a production house, has been in touch with the police and has given them a statement.

On Friday, Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said they had received a report on the actress’ death from Kokilaben Ambani Hospital and that the police will now be investigating.

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi asked for a ‘complete probe’ into the matter and stressed on the need for women to be emotionally strong. “It’s really unfortunate that a young, successful actress who was so popular had to take this step. There should be a complete probe and all evidence should be taken to make sure that it was a case of suicide. There should be a conversation on the subject. If she is blaming her boyfriend, they should know how to treat their women. How should one person treat the other. Emotional violence is one of the worst things to happen. Women have to be more stronger emotionally, not just financially. Men must be more responsible towards their partner so nobody is forced to take a step as grievious as this,” Ms Ilmi told ANI.

Activist Abha Singh linked Pratyusha’s suicide to the larger issue of the breakdown of the nuclear family and also called for the need to decriminalise article 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). “It is very tragic that a young girl, a successful TV artiste who was famous as Balika Vadhu committed suicide. As on date, article 309 of the IPC is an offence which entails an imprisonment of upto one year. Keeping this case in kind, We should put pressure on Parliament to decriminalise 309 of the IPC otherwise a star who requires help does not say ‘I am suffering from depression’ because suicide is a state of mental depression. In the glamour world and otherwise, depression is on the rise because of the disengagement of the family breakdown of nuclear family,” Ms Singh told ANI.

Pratyusha’s death has sent shockwaves through Bollywood. TV actress Kamya Punjabi, with whom she featured on Bigg Boss, told DNA , “I am not in the right frame of mind.”

Actress Surekha Sikri, who played ‘Dadisa’ to Pratyusha’s character in Balika Vadhu, told IANS: “I am absolutely shocked. I knew her, she was very sweet. She was a sensitive person, she must have taken something to heart and must have got really emotional.” The actress allegedly killed herself over difficulties in her personal life.

Tanuj Garg, former CEO of Balaji Motion Pictures, disclosed on Twitter her plans to marry her boyfriend Rahul Raj.

Friends met Pratyusha Banerjee & her boyfriend Rahul (who owns a production house) on Holi & they seemed happy. They were to get married.

— T.A.N.U.J. G.A.R.G. (@tanuj_garg) April 1, 2016

Another love story gone wrong….. Suicide becomes the unfortunate answer. RIP Pratyusha Banerjee.

— T.A.N.U.J. G.A.R.G. (@tanuj_garg) April 1, 2016

Actor Eijaz Khan, a close friend of Pratyusha’s, has alleged that she has been murdered.

“My friend is no more. I know that what happened was very wrong. But this is not a case of suicide. She was not so weak. It seems to be a case of planned murder,” Mr Khan told NDTV.

TV actress Dolly Bindra, who knew Pratyusha from her Bigg Boss days, told ANI she was ‘too strong to commit suicice.’

The actress was earlier dating businessman named Makrand Malhotra, with whom she had a bitter break-up and against whom she had lodged a complaint for abusive behaviour.In January this year, Pratyusha had alleged that she was molested by some men dressed as police personnel.

Pratyusha Banerjee played Anandi on Balika Vadhu from 2010 to 2013. She was also a contestant on reality shows Bigg Boss and Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa and appeared on several other shows like Sasural Simar Ka.