HYDERABAD: Siddharth Reddy surrenders in Pratyusha case
HYDERABAD: Siddharth Reddy, the main accused in the death of actor Pratyusha, surrendered before the Nampally court on Monday following Supreme Court directions. Police shifted him to Chanchalguda jail as per the trial court verdict delivered in 2004.
The Nampally court had earlier sentenced him to five years’ rigorous imprisonment. He later moved the High Court, which in 2011 reduced the sentence to two years after hearing the case.
Reddy challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court. The apex court recently upheld the High Court verdict and directed him to surrender within four weeks. The case has returned to focus nearly 24 years after the incident.
Case dates back to 2002 suspicious death
Actor Pratyusha, a native of Bhongir, died under suspicious circumstances on February 23, 2002. Police registered a case stating that Pratyusha and Siddharth Reddy consumed pesticide mixed in a soft drink.
During treatment, Pratyusha died in hospital, while Siddharth Reddy recovered after medical care.
Mother alleges murder, pursues prolonged legal battle
Pratyusha’s mother pursued a prolonged legal battle, alleging that her daughter was murdered and the incident was projected as suicide. She approached the Nampally court, the High Court and the Supreme Court.
In 2004, the Nampally court convicted Siddharth Reddy for abetment of suicide and sentenced him to five years in jail. The High Court later reduced the sentence to two years.
Both Siddharth Reddy and Pratyusha’s mother challenged the High Court ruling in the Supreme Court. On February 17 this year, the Supreme Court dismissed Reddy’s appeal and upheld the High Court judgment, directing him to surrender within four weeks.
Reddy, who had settled in the United States, returned and surrendered before the Nampally court on Monday.
