The parents of TV actor Pratyusha Banerjee, who allegedly committed suicide on April 1, have written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, seeking a probe into her death by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. The state government said it might be done.
Making it clear that it was the responsibility of the police to get to the bottom of this case, Minister of State (Home) Ranjit Patil said the police administration would have to bear the consequences if their work was not found proper.
The 24-year-old ‘Balika Vadhu’ actress was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her residence in Goregaon on April 1.
A case has been lodged against her boyfriend and actor-producer Rahul Raj Singh under sections for abetment of suicide.
Pratyusha’s mother Soma Banerjee, in her letter to the CM, Patil and top police officials, sought a probe by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch into her death, alleging that Singh was “solely responsible for her death”.
She also alleged that instead of seriously investigating the matter, the Bangur Nagar police, where the case has been registered, was giving a free hand to the accused to destroy the evidence.
“We have received the letter and have asked the police officials to take up the case on a high-priority basis. If the need be, we do not mind transferring the case to the Crime Branch,” said Patil.
“I have myself spoken to the police officials concerned and have told them that a letter from Pratyusha’s mother means that her parents are not happy with the probe and more needs to be done,” he said.
He asserted that the message that needed to go out was that the police were probing the case on a war-footing and no stone would be left unturned.
“If we find that the police are not doing their work properly, they will have to bear the consequences. It is their outlook on what needs to be done. We will not direct them on what to do, but are closely monitoring what is being done. If necessary, we will not only use the Crime Branch, but all other measures at our disposal to see that the truth comes out,” he said.