The Supreme Court today issued notices to the CBI asking it to file its reply with in a month on the petition filed by Mr Siddhartha reddy, accused in the case relating to the sensational death of budding actress Pratyusha in 2002.

Siddhartha reddy, who has been presently lodged in the Chanchalguda jail, filed the petition seeking reduction of the sentence imposed on him by the state high court. He also sought suspension of the high court judgment pending disposal of the case.

The high court awarded two years imprisonment to Mr Siddhartha reddy on Dec 28 and asked him to surrender to the Nampally Court in 15 days. As the Supreme Court refused to suspend the HC orders, Siddhartha reddy surrendered before the Nampally Criminal Court on Jan 11 following which he was sent to the Chanchalguda jail.

The petition came up for hearing today and the apex court issued notices to the CBI on Siddhartha reddy’s plea to reduce the sentence of two years.

It may be recalled that Pratyusha and his alleged lover Siddhartha reddy, son of a highly influential contractor of Hyderabad, were admitted to the Care Hospital in an unconscious state on February 23, 2002. It was alleged they consumed poison-mixed cool drinks after family elders refused to okay their marriage proposal.

Surprisingly, the hospital management didn’t inform the police about their admission despite knowing it was a medico-legal case. The police were informed only after Pratyusha died at 11.45 am on February 24, ending the chances of the police recording a dying declaration from the actress.

However, Siddhartha reddy survived the incident and faced the case in the Nampally criminal court which found him responsible for her death and awarded him six years imprisonment. The HC reduced it to 2 years. (JUBS)