Pratyusha Banerjee suicide: Rahul Raj Singh's lawyer withdraws from case

The lawyer of TV producer Rahul Raj Singh, who has been booked for abetment of his girlfriend actress Pratyusha Banerjee’s suicide, has withdrawn from the case. “I withdrew from the case on humanitarian grounds. I felt that I shouldn’t be fighting the case, and hence left it so that injustice is not done to anyone,” Rahul’s lawyer Neeraj Gupta said.

“A client should pass on all the information, right or wrong, good or bad, to the lawyer, but I was kept in the dark and got all the details (pertaining to the case) from outside (media),” Gupta claimed. Replying to a query on whether he changed his mind after the FIR was filed against Rahul, he said, “The FIR has nothing to with the decision. A lawyer is always prepared for such things.” (Also read. Pratyusha Banerjee's alleged suicide a senseless step: Hema Malini)

Rahul Raj Singh, currently in hospital, was yesterday booked for the abetment of suicide after police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by the actress’s mother Soma at Bangurnagar Police Station. Police had declined to divulge details regarding the investigation that led to registration of the FIR. They suspect Singh was in relationship with another woman about which the deceased was depressed.

A case under IPC sections 306 (abetment of suicide), 504, 506 (criminal intimidation), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC has been registered against Rahul. On April 1, the 24-year-old actress, who shot to fame for her role of Anandi in hit TV series “Balika Vadhu”, allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself inside her flat at Goregoan area of western suburbs. (Also read. Watch: This is Pratyusha Banerjee’s last party video, also shows Rahul Raj Singh)

Police are also trying to ascertain whether the deceased was in financial troubles or had any dispute with Singh. Some reports suggested the actress, who hailed from Jamshedpur, was depressed over not getting roles in TV serials. On Sunday, Singh was admitted in ICU ward of a hospital in Kandivali after he complained of chest pain and breathlessness, said police.

As part of their probe, police spoke to several people, including the common friends of Singh and Banerjee, their close relatives, friends, neighbours and domestic help. Police are awaiting the viscera report of the actress.