Pratyusha’s boyfriend quizzed

Mumbai, April 2

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The Mumbai Police today summoned TV actor Rahul Raj Singh for questioning in connection with the alleged suicide by actress Pratyusha Banerjee. “We have recorded his statement,” said police spokesperson DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni.

Rahul, a former state-level cricketer who also owns a production house, was the first to see Pratyusha’s body hanging from a ceiling fan at her flat in Goregaon West on Friday afternoon.

He immediately alerted neighbours and with their help, rushed her to Kokilaben Ambani Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. An investigator said her death may have occurred around 5 pm on Friday, but details would be known only after the autopsy report was received. No suicide note has been found.

Late Friday evening, the entertainment industry was stunned to learn of Pratyusha’s death who played Anandi in the TV serial "Balika Vadhu. Hailing from Jharkhand, the 24-year-old was last seen in another TV serial "Sasural Simar Ka". She had earlier participated in the fifth season of the reality dance show "Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa" and "Bigg Boss 7". She had also hosted some episodes of "Savdhaan India".

The glamour industry is rife with speculation about her disturbed personal life, especially her “uneasy” relationship with Rahul.

Bollywood personalities Karan Johar, Arbaaz Khan, Simi Garewal and Karishma Tanna mourned the death. Simi Garewal said: “The only serial I've watched was 'Balika Vadhu'. For her! Very sad. Only 24. It's too tough here for girls without family support.”

Karan Johar tweeted, “ This is just so sad and a wake up call to families and friends who don't consider depression as a medical condition. RIP Pratyusha Banerjee... A girl died, let her loved ones mourn in peace. Social media may not have a conscience, but can it have a heart? Rishi Kapoor wrote on the Facebook: “What a shame! Such a lovely person should (commit) suicide! Who knows the turmoil within her. RIP." — Agencies