HC REJECTS PARENTS’ PLEA

Refuses to transfer probe to Crime Branch, saying that the city police is conducting a fair and proper probe into the case

Observing that investigations were on the right track in the case, the Bombay High Court on Thursday tur ned down the plea of Pratyusha's parents to transfer the probe to Crime Branch.

A division bench headed by Justice Naresh Patil said, “At this stage we are of the view that there is no need to transfer the case to any other agency. The DCP of the concer ned zone is closely monitoring the probe and the investigations are on the right track.”

Refusing to accept the demand, the court asked the petitioner on why they (parents) feel that the investigation is not on the right track? The court observed that investigations in any case require time and especially in such a case where there is no direct evidence there is more pressure on the police, so it is obvious that the investigation may take some time.

However, the court asked the prosecution to spell out the time period in which the police may complete the investigations. Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde responded to the court’s query saying, “The police is probing in a fair manner and the entire probe will be completed in two months.”

KT Thomas, the counsel appearing for Pratyusha's mother Shoma Banerjee, infor med the court that despite Shoma’s statement against Rahul Raj Singh which was recorded by the police on April 2, the police registered an FIR on April 5.

He also told that the petitioner fears that the Bangur Nagar police which is investigating the case is hand in glove with the accused and that they may scuttle the investigation in future.

Shinde refuted the allegations saying that the police had recorded Shoma's statement on April 2, wherein she had stated that she does not suspect anyone behind her daughter's death.

He informed the court about the progress of the probe citing that the police has recorded statements of around 26 people including the maid of the actress along with some close friends, relatives and even a bank manager.

Shinde also infor med the court that the police has seized both the cell phones of Pratyusha along with the cell phone of Rahul Raj and has sent them to a Forensic Lab for a test and that the police will be obtaining the Call Data Records (CDR) of both Pratyusha and her boyfriend Rahul.

The prosecutor told the court that the deceased actress was pregnant. He said, “According to the probe, Pratyusha had approached one Dr Shinde for some treatment. The doctor's statement would be recorded to find out what treatment she underwent and whether she had taken any medicines from him.”

The prosecutor also told the court that the autopsy report of Pratyusha shows ligature marks on her neck but the viscera report will only reveal the exact cause of her death.

The court has however, asked the prosecutor to submit a report of further progress in the probe on the next hearing which is posted on May 4.