Pratyusha case: Parents allege bias in police probe

Mumbai, July 29  The parents of deceased television actress Pratyusha Banerjee on Friday accused the Mumbai police of "bias" in the ongoing investigations into their daughter's death.

"The police is not cooperating with us. They appear to be protecting Rahul Raj Singh (Pratyusha's boyfriend) and his associates. They are trying to convert a murder case into a suicide case," said the late actress' father Shankar Banerjee and his wife Shoma.

Speaking to media persons, they expressed their "extreme unhappiness" at the manner in which the police was investigating their daughter's death and alleged that the police was "going easy" on those responsible for it.

The couple spoke to the media on the eve of the next hearing in the case scheduled before Borivali Magistrate's court on Saturday, July 30. 

Meanwhile, Rahul Raj Singh has reportedly gone missing.

Pratyusha, the popular star of 'Balika Vadhu' teleserial, on April 1 was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her flat which she shared with Singh.

"We are kept in the dark about the developments in the case. The chargesheet lodged has not been shared with us despite repeated requests. We asked to see the flat where Pratyusha was living, but were informed it was sealed and they would need the court's permission," Banerjee said.

He alleged that the flat in Goregaon had been quietly opened, without the Banerjee family being told. 

"That flat and each and everything in it belongs to Pratyusha. We are certain that some evidence could have been found there, some photographs or something else which could prove she was murdered by Singh and his cronies," Banerjee said.

He claimed the police always discarded the family's plea on checking the flat properly, saying the case was being investigated by senior officers.

They claimed that Singh's former girlfriend Saloni Sharma was not made an accused though she was involved in the crime and was being treated like a "witness".

Pratyusha's parents said they would continue their attempts to meet the Police Commissioner and decide their next step after getting the chargesheet.