Mumbai: The tragic death of television actress Pratyusha Banerjee, best known for her role of Anandi in Balika Vadhu, remains a matter of controversy almost nine years after her demise. Pratyusha’s ex-boyfriend Rahul Raj Singh recently responded to the allegations leveled against him by actress Kamya Punjabi and others in an explosive interview on The Sunny Ji Show podcast.
Kamya Punjabi’s allegations against Rahul
Following Pratyusha’s alleged suicide on April 1, 2016, Kamya Punjabi, who was close to the late actress, accused Rahul of abetting the murder and said that Pratyusha could not have taken her own life. Kamya, along with others like Vikas Gupta and Rakhi Sawant, publicly questioned the circumstances of Pratyusha’s death, leading to widespread speculation and media scrutiny about Rahul’s role in the tragedy.
Rahul’s defense and claims
In the interview, Rahul denied Kamya’s claims and alleged that her statements in the media increased his legal troubles. According to Rahul, Kamya, Vikas Gupta and other industry colleagues fabricated a story against him, portraying him as the primary cause of Pratyusha’s untimely death.
Rahul further revealed that Pratyusha was under a lot of financial stress despite earning Rs. 30 lakh in 2015–2016, mainly due to his family’s financial problems. He also accused Kamya of borrowing money. Rs 2.5 lakh was taken from Pratyusha, which was never repaid.
“I did not know Kamya well. Once Pratyusha introduced me to her at a party, where Kamya was quite drunk. Pratyusha gave him approximately Rs. Had lent. 2-2.5 lakh, which Kamya had promised to return, but never returned,” Rahul said.
Accusation of negative influence on Kamya
Rahul also talked about Kamya’s lifestyle and accused her of being a bad influence on Pratyusha. She claimed that Kamya and other friends would often party excessively, which created discord in Pratyusha’s life.
“He used to drink a lot. I always wanted Pratyusha to stop drinking and focus on her well-being. I wasn’t against him meeting his friends, but I wanted him to stay away from that lifestyle. Because of this I became a villain in their eyes. They felt that I was taking Pratyusha away from them.
Legal troubles after Pratyusha’s death
Pratyusha’s parents filed a complaint against Rahul after her death, following which he was arrested on charges of abetment of suicide, assault and criminal intimidation. However, subsequent court proceedings suggested that financial and emotional harassment from various circles, including her family, may have contributed to her stress.
The truth behind Pratyusha’s untimely death remains a controversial topic, with multiple narratives and allegations adding layers of complexity to an already heartbreaking story.