Home / Crime and Justice / Actor Pratyusha Death: Supreme Court Ends 24-Year Mystery
Actor Pratyusha Death: Supreme Court Ends 24-Year Mystery
6 Sep
Summary
- Supreme Court ruled Pratyusha died from poisoning, not strangulation.
- Rape allegations against boyfriend were rejected by the court.
- Boyfriend convicted for abetting Pratyusha's suicide after 24 years.
In February 2002, actor Pratyusha tragically died at the age of 22 after consuming pesticide with her boyfriend, Siddhartha Reddy. Initially believed to be a suicide pact due to family opposition to their marriage, the case took a dramatic turn when Pratyusha's mother alleged rape and murder, citing conflicting medical opinions.
For 24 years, the case remained embroiled in controversy, marked by differing medical reports and allegations involving influential individuals. The Supreme Court, on February 17, 2026, finally settled the dispute.
The apex court concluded that Pratyusha died from poisoning, dismissing claims of strangulation and rejecting the rape allegations. Consequently, her mother's murder claims were not upheld.
However, the Supreme Court upheld Siddhartha Reddy's conviction for abetting Pratyusha's suicide, ruling that his participation in the suicide pact made him legally culpable. The judgment closed the legal chapter on a case that had been overwhelmed by rumor and speculation for decades.
Pratyusha, who began her acting career in 1998, was still building her career across Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada cinema at the time of her death. Her unreleased Telugu film, Idemi Oorura Babu, and her last release, the Tamil film Sound Party, highlight how her life and career were cut short while she was still finding her place in the industry.
