Prathyusha Death Case: More than two decades after the tragic death of Telugu-Tamil actress Prathyusha, the legal battle surrounding her case has finally reached its conclusion. In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has upheld the conviction of Gudipalli Siddhartha Reddy for abetment to suicide, bringing closure to one of the most debated cases in the regional film industry.
Tragic Death in 2002
Prathyusha was found dead in February 2002 in Hyderabad at the age of just 20. She had already begun establishing herself as a promising actress in Telugu and Tamil cinema. On the day of the incident, she was reportedly with Siddhartha Reddy, who was said to be in a relationship with her.
According to the prosecution, the two consumed poison together in what was described as a suicide pact. While Prathyusha died due to poisoning, Reddy survived after receiving medical treatment. The case immediately drew intense media scrutiny and public attention, with several questions emerging about whether it was truly a mutual suicide attempt or if there was foul play involved.
Relationship and Alleged Family Opposition
Investigations revealed that Prathyusha and Siddhartha Reddy were in a relationship but were allegedly facing opposition from Reddy’s family. This resistance was cited as a potential factor behind the decision to consume poison.
The prosecution argued that Reddy had purchased the poison and played a direct role in the act, which amounted to abetment to suicide under Indian law. The fact that he survived while the actress did not fueled suspicions and public speculation. Reddy maintained throughout that it was a joint decision and denied intentionally abetting her suicide.
Trial Court Conviction
After investigation and trial, a lower court convicted Siddhartha Reddy for abetment to suicide and attempt to suicide. He was sentenced to five years in prison. The court relied on evidence that he had procured the poison and participated in the act.
Under Indian law, even in cases involving a mutual suicide pact, the surviving individual can be held legally responsible for abetment if their actions contributed to the death of the other person. However, the legal proceedings did not end with the trial court’s judgment.
High Court Reduces Sentence
In 2004, the Andhra Pradesh High Court upheld Reddy’s conviction but reduced his sentence from five years to two years. This decision sparked renewed controversy.
Prathyusha’s mother, Sarojini Devi, challenged the ruling, alleging that her daughter had been raped and murdered rather than having died by suicide. She sought a harsher punishment and pushed for the case to be treated as homicide.
Meanwhile, Reddy also challenged his conviction, arguing that the poisoning was either accidental or part of a failed joint suicide attempt that did not legally qualify as abetment.
Supreme Court Examination
The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court of India, which heard both appeals — Reddy’s challenge to his conviction and the mother’s plea alleging rape and murder.
The apex court closely examined the medical and forensic evidence presented during the trial. A controversial aspect of the case was a postmortem report by Dr. B. Muni Swamy, which had suggested strangulation as the cause of death. However, the Supreme Court observed that the doctor had not been examined during the trial and described the report as unprofessional. The bench also criticized the premature and deliberate publication of such a report.
After reviewing the evidence, the court concluded that there was overwhelming medical and ocular proof that Prathyusha died due to poisoning and not strangulation.
Rape Allegations Dismissed
The Supreme Court also rejected allegations of rape, stating that the evidence on record did not substantiate such claims. It held that introducing charges of rape and strangulation at a later stage was not supported by material presented during the trial.
The court dismissed the defence argument that the poison was consumed accidentally. It upheld the finding that Reddy’s act of purchasing the poison established abetment to suicide. The bench clarified that in cases of a mutual suicide pact, the surviving partner can be held legally accountable if their actions contributed to the other’s death.
Final Verdict
In its final ruling, the Supreme Court dismissed Siddhartha Reddy’s appeal and directed him to surrender within four weeks. However, the court declined to enhance the sentence as requested by Prathyusha’s mother.
With this decision, the Supreme Court has effectively brought the 23-year-old case to a legal close. The court affirmed that Prathyusha’s death was a case of suicide by poisoning and not murder, while holding Siddhartha Reddy criminally liable for abetment.
The verdict not only concludes a long legal battle but also underscores the legal position that even in mutual suicide pacts, surviving individuals can face criminal consequences under Indian law.
