Rahul Raj Singh, former boyfriend of the late TV actress Pratyusha Banerjee, has reacted strongly against a prominent Mumbai tabloid, that reported excerpts from their last conversation in order to accuse him of allegedly forcing her into prostitution.
Singh says that the transcript has been tampered with and partially reported to make him look guilty, when in fact Pratyusha was trying to suggest that it was her parents who were the main cause for her misery.
I don’t know why the newspaper did this. According to me it is the lowest form of journalism. They’ve edited the conversation to make it look as if Pratyusha was accusing me for her misery, when in fact she clearly says that her parents were responsible. In the course of the conversation she clearly says ‘Baat mere baare mein ho rahi hai....maa baap mere ghatiya hain (people are talking about me, my parents are lowdown).Rahul Raj Singh, Pratyusha Banerjee’s former boyfriend
Singh also told The Quint that he is filing a defamation case against the tabloid which has printed the story.
I am in no mood to take this lying down. This is not a serious allegation. It is a foolish allegation, belied by documented facts. In that conversation I had with Pratyusha she is clearly heard calling her father a ‘bhadwa’ and ‘behench*d’. She’s clearly heard saying, ‘Rahul, you love me so much.That’s why you’re taking all this.’ All this has been deleted from the published transcript of our conversation to make me look guilty.Rahul Raj Singh
He has already asked his lawyer to take action against the paper and has also sent a strongly worded rejoinder to the publication on Friday.
I rang up the editor asking what they stood to gain by portraying me so badly, by tampering with the text of the transcript from the charge sheet, which was filed three months ago.Rahul Raj Singh
Rahul also casts doubts on the role of Heer Patel, who was alleged to be involved with him at some point.
Why were Pratyusha’s parents staying in Heer Patel’s home when they didn’t even know her before Pratyusha’s death? Heer Patel accuses me of cheating her. The alleged agreement with me, that Heer Patel has given to the court, is a xerox agreement. Where is her original document for the Rs 20 lacs that she wants from me?Rahul Raj Singh
Rahul accuses Partyusha’s parents of misusing her funds and driving her to suicide.
In her last conversation with me, Pratyusha clearly accused her parents of using and spending all her money. There is a bank statement in the charge sheet which clearly shows how Rs 5.50 lacs out of the Rs 6 lacs that Pratyusha received as fee for a TV serial, went immediately into her mother’s bank account.Rahul Raj Singh
So is Rahul Raj accusing Pratyusha’s parents of forcing her into prostitution?
I am not saying it. Pratyusha is saying it in her telephonic conversation, which is a part of the charge sheet, So far I kept quiet on these matters. I wanted Pratyusha’s soul to rest in peace. But her parents are adamant to not leave their daughter alone even after her death. On the basis of this conversation, which is part of the charge sheet I’m confident that I’ll be proven ‘not guilty’.Rahul Raj Singh
Rahul continues to live in the same apartment where Pratyusha Banerjee allegedly committed suicide on 1 April, 2016.
I haven’t shifted out. I’ve become a wreck waiting for her soul to visit me in our house, so I can ask her why she did this to me.Rahul Raj Singh
He accuses Pratyusha’s parents and their lawyer of ganging up with her publicity hungry friends.
I’ve already sent defamation notices to their lawyer and to (actress) Kamya Punjabi. I’ve filed cases against them in my home-town Ranchi. These people getting together after Pratyusha’s death was no coincidence. This was pre-emptive action to save their skin. Pratyusha’s parents knew that if there would be an investigation into her death it would be very clear that it’s them who are to blame. Mujhe phasa diya beech mein (I was made a scapegoat). But I won’t be cowed down. Lies cannot defeat the truth.Rahul Raj Singh
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