Actress Priya Rajvansh Murdered in Bungalow Mystery

Priya Rajvansh, born Vera Sunder Singh, was found dead in her Juhu bungalow on the night of March 27, 2000. The 63-year-old actress, famed for her role as Heer in the 1970 film 'Heer Raanjha,' had suffered head injuries and strangulation. Her life had been deeply intertwined with filmmaker Chetan Anand, despite them never marrying. After his death in 1997, a property dispute arose concerning his Juhu bungalow, where Priya continued to reside. This dispute became central to the prosecution's case.

Initial investigations focused on how an assailant could have entered and exited the bungalow undetected within minutes. However, attention shifted to individuals familiar with the property. The prosecution alleged that the inheritance dispute over Chetan Anand's estate, which Priya was bequeathed a share of, motivated the killing. Priya's handwritten notes and a letter expressing her fears were presented as evidence.

In July 2002, a Mumbai sessions court sentenced four individuals to life imprisonment: Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand, Chetan's sons, were convicted of abetment and conspiracy. Two household employees, Mala Choudhary and Ashok Chinnaswamy, were convicted of murder and conspiracy. While the brothers later appealed and were granted bail, the legal proceedings left Priya's death with lingering questions about the events of that night.