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Mumbai, Rahul Raj Singh, the boyfriend of popular TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, was on Saturday quizzed after she allegedly committed suicide at her Bangur Nagar residence in suburban Goregaon here, the police said.
The 24-year-old actress, who shot to fame with her role as Anandi in “Balika Vadhu” was found hanging from the ceiling at her flat last evening.
“We are recording the statement of Rahul in connection with the suicide. We are also checking the last call details and the SMSes exchanged between the duo,” a senior police official said.
Although Rahul was not detained, he was brought to Siddharth Municipal Hospital in suburban Goregaon, where the autopsy of the actress is being conducted, the police said.
The deceased star’s parents too arrived at the hospital from Jamshedpur to claim her body.
According to the police, the actress, prima facie, committed suicide in her flat in ‘At Harmony’ building at around 1700 hours yesterday after which she was taken to Kokilaben Hospital in suburban Andheri by her friend, where she was declared dead.
Meanwhile, the post-mortem revealed “suffocation” as the cause of death, ANI reported. Quoting sources, it added that the post-mortem report said it was a “clear case of suicide”. “No foul play is seen, but it is not completely ruled out as well,” sources added.
After the incident, an accidental death case was registered at Bangurnagar police station yesterday.
The TV star was reportedly facing problems in her relationship with Singh.
Her last status message on Whatsapp read, “Marke bhi muh na tuzse modana” (even after death won’t be turning my face away from you) with a smiley.
Meanwhile, a host of TV actors, including Gurmeet Chaudhury, Kamya Punjabi and Pratyusha’s co-stars, were seen at the Goregaon hospital.
“I met her last at Holi and everything seemed normal. Cannot say why she committed suicide,” Gurmeet said.
Besides ‘Balika Vadhu’, Banerjee’s other major appearances on the small screen were in “Bigg Boss 7”, a reality show, and “Jhalak Dikhla Jha”, a dance programme.
She was last seen in TV show “Hum Hain Naa”.
Meanwhile, designer Rohit Verma who is a close friend of Pratyusha, claimed that the actress had asked him to design her wedding outfit last month.
“I spoke to her last on March 22. She had told me to design her wedding outfit. She was going to meet me today to discuss the color palette,” Rohit said.
When asked if he was aware about the wedding date Rohit said, “No, I don’t know about it. I was in London when she had called me up. She had invited me to come for Holi party as well but I couldn’t come.”
Pratyusha’s death a wake-up call: Karan Johar
Meanwhile, filmmaker Karan Johar, while expressing grief about alleged suicide of Banerjee, said her death should be taken as an alert by people who are ignorant towards condition of depression.
Mourning her death, Johar tweeted, “This is just so sad…and a wake up calm to families and friends who don’t consider depression a medical condition…RIP.”
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor also wrote on Twitter, “What a shame! Such a lovely person shouldn’t have committed suicide! Who knows the turmoil within her. RIP.”
Actor Armaan Kohli, who was Pratyusha’s co-contestant on “Bigg Boss 7”, paid her tribute by posting, “A beautiful soul, a beautiful friend who is going to be missed from the bottom of my heart #PratyushaBanerjee. May God rest her soul.”
Pratyusha’s friend actress Maheck Chahal wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the news of my friend #PratyushaBanerjee.
“My most sincere condolences. Rest in peace little baby doll.”
TV actors, family bid adieu to Pratyusha
Several television personalities, friends and family members of TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, who allegedly committed suicide here yesterday, today bid a tearful adieu to her.
Pratyusha’s last rites were performed at Oshiwara crematorium here around 6 pm.
Several television personalities Kamya Punjabi, Smita Bansal, Rohit Verma, Rakhi Sawant, Ejaz Khan, Ratan Rajput, Sara Khan, Pooja Bose, Shilpa Saklani, Apoorva Agnihotri, Jay Bhanusali, Mahi Vij and others attended the funeral.
Pratyusha’s mother was inconsolable and she kept saying, “I don’t know why my daughter did this.”
