The death of Pratyusha remains one of the most controversial and widely discussed cases in Telugu cinema history. After 23 years of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court of India has finally delivered its verdict, bringing closure to a case that has sparked debate for over two decades.
Based on the evidence placed on record, the apex court ruled out allegations of rape and murder. However, it upheld the conviction of her boyfriend, Gudipalli Siddhartha Reddy, for abetment of suicide and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment.
The case dates back to February 23, 2002, when Pratyusha and Siddhartha Reddy were admitted to Care Hospital in Hyderabad after allegedly consuming pesticide mixed with a soft drink. The initial version suggested that the couple attempted suicide because their relationship was opposed by their families due to caste differences. Pratyusha passed away on February 24, 2002, at the age of 20, while Siddhartha Reddy survived.
While the police registered the case as suicide, Pratyusha’s mother, Sarojini Devi, consistently alleged that her daughter had been raped and murdered. She claimed that influential individuals were involved and that the incident was staged as a suicide. She further alleged that crucial forensic evidence, including biological samples, had been tampered with or suppressed. At the time, a local forensic expert, Dr. B. Muni Swamy, suggested the possibility of manual strangulation in his initial remarks, which added to the controversy. The case unfolded during the early phase of 24-hour Telugu news channels, leading to intense media debates and widespread speculation about political cover-ups and conspiracy theories.
Two years after the incident, a sessions court convicted Siddhartha Reddy under Section 306 for abetment of suicide and Section 309 for attempt to suicide, sentencing him to five years in prison. Later, the Andhra Pradesh High Court reduced the sentence to two years while increasing the fine to ₹50,000. Both Siddhartha Reddy and Pratyusha’s mother challenged aspects of the ruling, taking the matter to the Supreme Court.
With its latest judgment, the Supreme Court dismissed all appeals, confirmed poisoning as the cause of death, and ruled out charges of rape and murder. The conviction for abetment of suicide was upheld, and Siddhartha Reddy was directed to surrender within four weeks. Over the years, he has maintained a low public profile, and there has been little confirmed information about his whereabouts.
Pratyusha’s mother, who was a government school teacher before her daughter entered films, later started a charitable initiative in her daughter’s name and has consistently pursued the case in courts, including during Supreme Court proceedings, seeking stricter punishment. The final verdict is likely to be disappointing for her and for many who believed the case warranted stronger charges. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court’s ruling formally concludes one of the most debated legal battles in Telugu cinema history.
