Published Feb 17, 2026 | 3:17 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 17, 2026 | 3:17 PM
Pratyusha
Synopsis: The case dates back to 23 February 2002, when the 22-year-old actress, who had appeared in around 12 films in the Telugu and Tamil industries, consumed a pesticide-mixed soft drink with Reddy in Hyderabad.
In a significant development ending a 23-year legal battle, the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 17 February, dismissed appeals in the high-profile case surrounding the death of Telugu actress Pratyusha, upholding the findings of the lower courts regarding abetment of suicide.
The apex court ruled out charges of rape and murder, rejecting claims of strangulation or foul play. The bench affirmed that the incident involved poisoning through the consumption of pesticide in a suicide pact, establishing abetment of suicide as a culpable offence under law.
It drew an adverse inference against the accused, Gudipalli Siddharth Reddy, Pratyusha’s boyfriend.
The Supreme Court dismissed Reddy’s plea challenging his conviction and directed him to surrender before the authorities within four weeks to serve the remaining sentence.
The court also rejected appeals by Pratyusha’s mother, Sarojini Devi, who had sought a stricter punishment, alleging murder.
The case dates back to 23 February 2002, when the 22-year-old actress, who had appeared in around 12 films in the Telugu and Tamil industries, consumed a pesticide-mixed soft drink with Reddy in Hyderabad.
Pratyusha succumbed to organophosphate poisoning the next day at a hospital, while Reddy survived. Initial suspicions of murder arose due to the circumstances, including conflicting autopsy opinions, leading to a CBI probe that ruled the incident as a suicide pact rather than murder.
In 2004, a Hyderabad trial court convicted Reddy of abetment to suicide under Section 306 of the IPC and attempt to commit suicide under Section 309 IPC, sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment along with fines.
In 2011, the Andhra Pradesh High Court substantially upheld the conviction but reduced the jail term to two years while enhancing the fine.
Both sides appealed to the Supreme Court—Reddy challenging the conviction, and Pratyusha’s mother pushing for enhanced punishment amid persistent doubts about the nature of the death.
After prolonged litigation, including reserved judgment in late 2025 following fresh arguments, the Supreme Court delivered its final ruling on 17 February bringing closure to the prolonged case.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
