The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted interim relief to Rahul Raj Singh, boyfriend of late actor Pratyusha Banerjee, who was booked by the Bangur Nagar police for abetting her suicide. Singh had filed an anticipatory bail application (ABA). The court granted relief to Singh on certain conditions and directed the Bangur Nagar police to not arrest him till April 18.
Earlier on April 7, the Mumbai Sesssions court had rejected Singh's bail application, after which his lawyers approached the high court. Opposing Singh's bail, public prosecutor Usha Kerjiwal argued that after Banerjee's suicide, Singh went absconding and then got himself admitted to a private hospital to escape police action.
She added that on the day of the incident, Singh was with Banerjee till 3pm and that the police have not yet ascertained the time of death. Hence, Singh's bail application should not be considered, said Kejriwal. Interestingly, senior counsel Abad Ponda, representing Singh, did not argue in the court.
While granting Singh interim relief, justice Mrudula Bhatkar observed that he and Banerjee were in a live-in relationship. She also observed that Banerjee was assaulted and physically tortured on numerous occasions and that Singh withdrew and used her money on a number of occasions. Justice Bhatkar observed that Banerjee committed suicide at her residence due to all these tensions. She also said that since the registration of the FIR, Singh did not turn up at the police station for investigation.
She, however, granted interim relief to Singh till April 18, when his ABA will come up for hearing once again. Bhatkar also instructed Singh to co-operate with the investigation and present himself before the Bangur Nagar police station for two hours – 11am to 1pm – daily till April 18. She also stated that in case Singh was arrested, he will have to furnish a bond of Rs30,000.
Meanwhile, Singh's father Harshvardhan, said, "Rahul is still under treatment. As the court has directed, we shall show our full support to the police and shall bring him to the police station whenever required."
